TRANSPORT

A21: Repairs and Maintenance

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her plans are for the A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: None. Under the regional funding allocation process it is for regions to advise the Government on schemes, which in their view, should be prioritised for funding. Ministers then take decisions on whether to accept that advice. In the case of the south east we have agreed in full to the recommendations made by the South East Regional Transport Board (RTB) for the period up to 2016. The proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge has not been prioritised by the South East RTB in that period.

Bus Services: Concessions

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by her Department on bus subsidy in the North East of England, broken down by  (a) local authority and  (b) bus operator in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: Since 1998, the Department has provided grants to local transport authorities through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, Rural and Urban Bus Challenge and Kickstart schemes. The table shows the total paid (in £s) to each authority in the North East region, and the regional total, for each year since the introduction of these grant schemes.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Authority  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Durham 654,510 899,816 604,510 771,913 1,081,482 1,308,014 1,601,018 1,326,172 989,295 
			 Northumberland 306,850 370,808 538,043 680,503 1,300,344 1,970,099 1,425,497 1,113,527 1,113,904 
			 Tyne and Wear 96,151 913,758 309,071 354,768 671,523 1,196,086 1,412,614 1,303,923 1,159,038 
			 Darlington 31,912 31,584 41,659 61,742 70,668 602,155 364,605 317,201 100,726 
			 Hartlepool 16,522 16,019 16,872 21,544 176,102 102,986 564,494 275,430 223,181 
			 Middlesbrough 7,779 11,542 11,542 14,738 12,542 17,224 67,741 208,437 18,889 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 30,713 56,497 68,039 77,142 82,573 84,311 162,490 148,156 184,245 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 22,904 33,832 45,832 55,201 154,625 156,785 259,197 308,665 213,860 
			 Total 1,167,341 2,333,856 1,635,568 2,037,551 3,549,859 5,437,660 5,857,656 5,001,511 4,003,138 
		
	
	The majority of local authority support for bus services is funded from the Government's unhypothecated Revenue Support Grant and from other sources.
	The Department also provides Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) directly to operators of local bus services. Bus routes cross local authority borders and it is not possible to allocate BSOG payments to different local authority areas with sufficient accuracy; information on payments to individual operators is commercially confidential. However, we estimate that BSOG payments to operators in the North East region now total around £24 million annually.

Cycling

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) resource and  (b) capital expenditure was made available for improving the convenience and safety of cycling in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The Department provides a central budget for cycling which since 2005-06 has been the responsibility of Cycling England.
	The details are:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Resource/ r evenue  Capital 
			 2005-06 1.8 3.2 
			 2006-07 4.0 6.0 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide a split of funding between capital and revenue/resource for earlier years but central expenditure on cycling was as follows and largely related to capital expenditure.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2002-03 2.2 
			 2003-04 2.2 
			 2004-05 10.5 
		
	
	Funds in 2002-03 and 2003-04 were for our Cycling Projects Fund while funds in 2004-05 supported additional safe links to school and additional cycle parking at rail stations. In addition the Department provides revenue/resource funds through its Road Safety Grant Challenge Scheme. Details of the cycling grants awarded were as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2002-03 8,473 
			 2003-04 2,676 
			 2004-05 19,800 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 4.600 
		
	
	The majority of expenditure on cycling is spent by local highway authorities who receive capital funding from the Department through the Local Transport Plan system since 2001-02. We have no information on revenue spending. English authorities outside London have informed the Department that their investment in cycle facilities is as follows for the last five years:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2001-02 29.6 
			 2002-03 39.9 
			 2003-04 32.1 
			 2004-05 40.0 
			 2005-06 34.1 
		
	
	London boroughs also receive funding from the Department via a block settlement through Transport for London (TfL) and with other revenue streams. TfL has advised the Department that their investment in cycling facilities since 2001-02 is as follows and that around 80 per cent. of this money has been spent on physical infrastructure much of it to support the London Cycle Network+.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2001-02 12.5 
			 2002-03 11.6 
			 2003-04 12.7 
			 2004-05 13.1 
			 2005-06 18.3

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following payments have been made to Common Purpose over the last five years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 1,161 
			 2006-07 12,053 
			 2007-08 (to date) 6,462 
		
	
	These payments relate to leadership development for senior managers within the Department to meet their individual development needs. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the development in meeting these needs has been, or will be, carried out by the individuals and their managers.

Departments: Public Transport

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the number of its staff using public transport to commute.

Jim Fitzpatrick: An estimate covering the full Department is not currently available, however the most recent survey of our London HQ buildings indicated that 92 per cent. of staff in the London HQ travel to work by cycling, walking or via public transport. The remaining 8 per cent. used a car or motorbike to travel to work.
	DfT has plans to carry out new staff surveys as part of a development of site specific travel plans, which are due to be finalised by April 2008.

Driving Offences: Fixed Penalties

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential effect on road safety of introducing a sliding scale of penalty points on a driving licence for speeding offences of varying gravity.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport issued a discussion note inviting comments on this in September 2004. The principle of a graduated scale was supported by the majority of respondents, and the Road Safety Act 2006 provides an enabling power to graduate the fixed penalty points awarded for speeding offences.
	The Department's objective is to help drivers to travel at safe and legal speeds at all times. The proposals for graduated speeding penalties are designed to recognise there are considerable differences in the degree of excessive speeding by motorists and for the punishment to better fit the crime. A graduated structure would allow more careful consideration of drivers who through lapses of concentration breach the speed limit by a relatively small amount and where even two penalty points are expected to act as a sufficient deterrent to prevent re-offending. It would also allow for a higher penalty of six penalty points to act as a strong deterrent against more extreme speeders who exceed the speed limit by large amounts.
	The proposed final graduated penalty structure will be subject to statutory public consultation before it is considered by both Houses under the affirmative resolution procedure.

Exhaust Emissions

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with councils on the introduction of low emission zones;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with local authorities on the introduction of low emission zones.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is for individual authorities to decide how best to work towards meeting air quality objectives locally. However, the Department for Transport liaises with local authorities via the Low Emissions Strategy forum, which shares knowledge and best practice to help local authorities to improve air quality, including low emission zones. The Department is also working closely with Transport for London to support the implementation of the Mayor's London Low Emission Zone.

Exhaust Emissions

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider introducing national guidelines for the rules and scope of local low emission zones.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are currently no plans to produce specific national guidelines on low emission zones for local authorities. However, the Department issued guidance to local authorities about their second local transport plans in December 2004. That guidance indicated that all authorities should consider whether local air quality problems need to be tackled in the transport plan. Where air quality management areas had been declared related to local transport, councils must consider what action to take.

Railways: Finance

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to support improvements in the Felixstowe to Nuneaton railway line before the final deadline for proposals for Trans-European Transport Network funding on 20 July.

Tom Harris: The development of this scheme overall is not at present sufficiently mature for submission to the EC for TEN-T funds. However, the contribution which Hutchison Ports UK has agreed to make to the Felixstowe-Peterborough element increases the prospects of other elements of the improvements in question being funded from other sources in due course.

Railways: Finance

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with interested parties on proposals to improve the Felixstowe to Nuneaton railway line.

Tom Harris: Discussions are continuing with interested parties on proposals for improvements west of Peterborough. Separately, an application has been made to the Secretary of State for an Order under the Transport and Works Act to authorise improvements to the Ipswich-Felixstowe branch line, and Hutchison Ports has agreed to fund these works (if approved) as well as gauge clearance as far as Peterborough.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departments: Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many and what percentage of staff in her office are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps she has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions.

Helen Goodman: Currently no members of my private office staff (11 people) make voluntary contributions to their pensions.
	Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the civil service pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on operations for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Members: Information and Communications Technology

Paul Keetch: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will ask Parliamentary Information and Communication Service (PICT) to carry out a customer survey of hon. and right hon. Members' satisfaction with the new personal digital assistants supplied by PICT; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The Board of Management surveyed all Members and their paid staff earlier this year. One question asked was how satisfied they were with the quality and reliability of remote access to the parliamentary network using a parliamentary issued handheld PDA. Of the 92 Members who answered the question 8 per cent. were extremely satisfied, 17 per cent. very satisfied, 30 per cent. fairly satisfied, 23 per cent. not very satisfied and 14 per cent. not at all satisfied. A qualitative survey is being planned to explore areas of dissatisfaction in more detail.

Portcullis House

Graham Allen: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will bring forward plans to put signage on the entrances to the first floor of Portcullis House to indicate the location of rooms in the building.

Nick Harvey: The architects of the building, Sir Michael Hopkins and Partners, have been appointed to carry out improvements to the signage, especially on the first floor.
	Their initial proposals for consideration include reconfiguring the electronic signage to make it easier to use, as well as the provision of additional signage in the entrance and lavatory areas.
	Subject to reaching agreement on the viability and effectiveness of the proposals, the work is scheduled to be undertaken during the financial year 2007-08. As a temporary measure, plans which show the location of rooms have been placed at each corner and on each side of the first floor.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Departments: Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of staff in the Law Officers' Departments were over 60 years of age in each of the last three years.

Vera Baird: The percentages of staff in my Departments over 60 years of age in each of the last of three years, and in the year to-date are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage of staff over 60 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 CPS 1.27 1.48 2.05 2.42 
			 SFO 1.65 2.21 1.03 1.93 
			 TSol 2.6 2.2 1.8 2.4 
			 HMCPSI 2.08 0 0 0 
			 RCPO (1)— 2 2 2 
			 (1) Department not in existence

Departments: Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people aged  (a) over 55 years of age and  (b) over 60 years of age have been recruited by her Department in each of the last three years; and what percentage in each case this is of the number of new recruits in each year.

Vera Baird: The relevant information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Over 55  Over 60 
			   New recruits  Percentage of new recruits  New recruits  Percentage of new recruits 
			  Treasury Solicitor/Attorney- General Departments 
			 2004-05 2 1.5 0 0 
			 2005-06 53 1.3 0 0 
			 2006-07 92 1.0 0 0 
			  
			  Serious Fraud Office 
			 2004-05 3 7.3 0 0 
			 2005-06 1 1.75 1 1.75 
			 2006-07 4 7.4 1 1.85 
			  
			  Crown Prosecution Service 
			 2004-05 16 2.71 0 0 
			 2005-06 13 2.39 0 0 
			 2006-07 4 0.89 0 0 
			  
			  Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office 
			 2005-06 2 6.0 0 0 
			 2006-07 2 3.0 0 0 
			 2007—to date 0 0 0 0 
			  
			  HMCPSI 
			 2004-05 1 2.08 0 0 
			 2005-06 0 0 0 0 
			 2006-07 1 2.13 0 0

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Cleaning Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his policy is on levying laundry charges on soldiers participating in training exercises, with particular reference to those at Westdown Camp, Salisbury Plain;
	(2)  how much was collected in laundry charges from soldiers participating in training exercises at Westdown Camp, Salisbury Plain in 2006-07; and what the cost to each soldier is for the use of  (a) washing and  (b) drying facilities;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy to end charging for the use of laundry facilities for soldiers participating in training exercises at Westdown Camp, Salisbury Plain; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  whether it is a requirement that soldiers  (a) participating in training exercises and  (b) on active deployment should maintain their clothing in clean and hygienic condition, where facilities are available; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: When on training exercises at Westdown Camp (or any other training location), units have the option, during pre-exercise planning, to request that laundry facilities be secured via established contractual arrangements from service providers within the local area. Such services are publicly funded and therefore free of charge to the soldier. It is a matter for Units to decide whether or not to take advantage of these arrangements, they may either utilise the facilities available at Westdown Camp or they may hand-wash and dry their laundry themselves.
	The facilities at Westdown Camp are self-operated facilities provided under contract for the convenience of soldiers. During the period January 2006 to June 2007 the income to the contractor arising from the use of the washing/drying machines at Westdown Camp was approximately £7,500. A further £1,500 was taken in commission by the Defence Training Estate Strategic Partner LANDMARC Support Services (LSS). Under established revenue sharing arrangements 70 per cent. of this total (£1,050) was reinvested back into the maintenance of the training estate. The cost to each soldier to use these facilities is £2.00 for washing and £1.00 for drying.
	Soldiers are responsible for maintaining their own personal hygiene, and this is instilled through effective training, leadership, education and example setting, particularly by Commanders. Personal hygiene is covered in soldiers Phase One training and reinforced annually through Military Annual Training Test 6 (Values and Standards). It is also covered in all pre-operational and exercise deployment health and hygiene presentations delivered by service environmental health staffs.

Armed Forces: Dental Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available the most recent review by the Defence Dental Services of dental treatment for service families in the UK, and place a copy of the review in the Library.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 25 June 2007
	I will write to the hon. Member.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of personnel in the  (a) Army,  (b) Royal Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force exceeded their separated service guidelines in the last period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: The information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Army 12.4 
			 Royal Navy <1 
			 Royal Air Force 6.2

Departments: Ministerial Powers

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of which ministerial directions his Department has been notified since 22 November 2006.

Des Browne: I assume that the hon. Member is seeking ministerial directions since the answer given by the Financial Secretary on 22 November 2005,  Official Report, column 1910W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).
	There has been one ministerial direction since 22 November 2005. On 29 June 2006, I directed the Accounting Officer to proceed with the formal underwriting of the Armed Forces Memorial (AFM) in the sum of £3.3 million which represented the balance the AFM Trustees required fully to fund the project.

Military Bases: Wales

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) military and  (b) civilian personnel he expects will be based at MOD St. Athan when the new military academy is complete.

Derek Twigg: The scale of the facility to be constructed at St. Athan is dependent upon the outcome of further work with the Metrix Consortium which is exploring the possibility of a Whole Programme Solution.

Nuclear Weapons: Transport

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will  (a) instigate a moratorium on transporting nuclear warheads to Scotland by road during the current critical security alert and  (b) ensure that any warheads currently ready for delivery are disassembled and remain at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Des Browne: The safety and security of the UK nuclear weapons is paramount. Any transportation is kept to a minimum consistent with operational requirements and all such movements are kept under constant review. This includes an advance evaluation of all relevant factors, including the risks and threats prevalent at the time, and involves close liaison with all appropriate stakeholders, including the civil authorities. Each movement is subject to procedures that are robust and sensitive to changing circumstances and priorities, commensurate with national defence and security requirements.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Products: Prices

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 2086-88W, on agricultural products: prices, what the farmgate price was of each product; and where there is no equivalent farmgate price, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that such a comparative analysis is available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 1665-66W, provided the farmgate prices for the nearest equivalent products to those for which retail prices were given in the answer of 21 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 2086-88W.
	There was a close match for many of the items. The nearest equivalent farmgate products for meat cuts are deadweight whole animals. The nearest equivalent farmgate product for flour is milling wheat. Farmgate prices for eggs by size category are not published because of a risk of disclosure of confidential information.
	Agriculture in the United Kingdom (Table 7.2 in the 2006 edition) provides an analysis of farmers share of a basket of food items.

Agriculture: Cornwall

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Cornwall's total gross value added was represented by farming in each year since 1996.

Jonathan R Shaw: Please find as follows figures showing the proportion of GVA for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that is represented by agriculture. Figures for the South West region have also been provided as background information.
	
		
			  Agricultural gross value added at basic prices 
			   Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly  South West 
			   GVA in £  million  Percentage of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly total GVA  GVA in £ million  Percentage of SW total GVA 
			 1996 175 5.1 1,156 2.3 
			 1997 153 4.3 1,023 1.9 
			 1998 141 3.7 891 1.5 
			 1999 138 3.5 852 1.4 
			 2000 121 2.8 759 1.2 
			 2001 124 2.7 800 1.2 
			 2002 138 2.8 880 1.2 
			 2003 162 3.0 963 1.3 
			 2004 155 2.7 897 1.1 
			 2005 129 (1)— 706 0.8 
			 (1) Not yet available

Agriculture: Subsidies

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers received single payment scheme payments of  (a) between £50,000 and £500,000,  (b) between £500,001 and £1 million and  (c) over £1 million in 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 29 June 2007
	 The numbers of claimants who have received payments to date for the single payment scheme year 2006 are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			  (a) Between £50,000 and £500,000 6,451 
			  (b) Between £500,001 and £1 million 16 
			  (c) Over £1 million 6

Agriculture: Subsidies

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether all single farm payments for the year 2006 have been paid in full.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 29 June 2007
	 As of 30 June 2007 the total value of payments made under the single payment scheme for 2006 is £1.49 billion, which is 98 per cent. of the estimated total fund of £1.52 billion.
	A total of 107,088 customers have received either a full or partial payment. This represents 98.2 per cent. of the estimated total claimant population of 109,000.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of claimants still awaiting payment under the 2005 Single Farm Payment scheme in  (a) England,  (b) Gloucestershire and  (c) Forest of Dean.

Jonathan R Shaw: In England, as of 13 June 2007, 20 claimants have not received a payment for the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS).
	As of 30 June 2007 the total value of payments made under the SPS for 2006 is £1.49 billion, which is 98 per cent. of the estimated total fund of £1.52 billion.
	A total of 107,088 customers have received either a full or partial payment. This represents 98.2 per cent. of the estimated total claimant population of 109,000.
	Detailed analysis of all the payments made under the SPS is not yet available. Once the remaining scheme payments have been completed, a decision will be taken on the level of detail that will be published.

Animal Welfare: Dogs

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to bring forward legislation to ban the use of electric shock collars for dogs.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are no plans to ban the use of electric shock collars. However, we recognise that future research into electric shock collars is a priority. The Department has circulated a new call for research, in the form of a Limited Tender Call, with the aim of taking forward any research on or after April 2007. The aim is to obtain independent scientific evidence so that a decision can be taken as to whether or not there is a need for regulation in this area.
	We have also asked the Companion Animal Welfare Council, in its role as advisory body to the Government on companion animal welfare matters, to undertake an independent study of available evidence on the use of electronic training devices. The outcome of this study will help inform DEFRA policy and will complement any separate research that DEFRA commissions into these devices.
	If regulation were considered necessary there would be a full public consultation before any regulations were drafted and put to Parliament. All research into these areas commissioned by the Government will be put in the public domain.

Animal Welfare: Education

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills on introducing animal welfare education classes to schools.

Jonathan R Shaw: No such discussions have taken place. However, I am aware that in Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), pupils learn to "take and share responsibility", which can include looking after animals properly. In addition, many local authorities run their own animal welfare education schemes in schools. For example, both Coventry city council and the London borough of Lambeth give regular performances and presentations on animal welfare at primary and secondary schools. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also provides teaching resources for animal welfare education for use in classrooms.

Beef: Brazil

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his officials last visited Brazil to check the traceability and identification procedures required for beef exports to the EU.

Jonathan R Shaw: The conditions that apply to beef imported into the EU are set out in EU law and it is the responsibility of the European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) to visit exporting countries to ensure that their procedures are adequate to guarantee compliance with EU import conditions.
	The last visit to Brazil by FVO inspectors took place in March this year. Commissioner Kyprianou himself visited Brazil in October 2006.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timescale is for the next stage of work of the bovine TB Vaccine Programme Advisory Group.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Vaccine Programme Advisory Group provides advice on the science needed to progress towards a vaccine for use in the field.
	The research programme for producing an effective vaccine against tuberculosis in badgers and cattle remains broadly in line with the timetable outlined in the 1997 Krebs Report. This estimated:
	I. Years 1 to 5: Identification of candidate vaccines and development of differential diagnostic tests;
	II. Years 5 to 10: Experimental investigations of vaccination protocols;
	III. Years 10 to 15: Field trials.
	The first stage started in 1999 and is ongoing. The second stage has also started. Work on badger vaccines includes a project on developing oral formulations and a three-and-a-half year vaccine field trial to gather safety data and assess efficacy on injectable Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The cattle vaccine research programme includes a natural transmission study looking at various candidate vaccines.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the research protocol agreed with Warwick university and others to examine the use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction test for the detection of bovine tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA publishes the objectives of all research projects it commissions on its science website, once the contracts have been signed. This will be the case with the planned project to validate Polymerase Chain Reaction methods to detect bovine tuberculosis to be undertaken co-operatively by Warwick university, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and University College London.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Research

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department provided for the Woodchester studies of bovine tuberculosis and badgers in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA fund a range of research work with the Central Science Laboratory's (CSL) research team based at Woodchester Park. The following amount of funding has been provided by DEFRA for the ecological and epidemiological study of the badger population at Woodchester Park:
	1997-98: £260,877
	1998-99: £278,408
	Between 1999-2000 and 2002-03 the study was supported by two DEFRA projects. It has not been possible to disentangle the amounts spent on the ecological and epidemiological study of the badger population at Woodchester Park in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, however CSL estimate the following for 2001-02 and 2002-03:
	2001-02: £268,000
	2002-03: £268,000
	Between 2004-05 and 2006-07 the project that supported this study also supported an investigation of perturbation. The following figures are an estimate provided by CSL of the amount of funding used for the study of the Woodchester Park badger population alone:
	2003-04: £273,000
	2004-05: £298,000
	2005-06: £288,000
	2006-07: £294,000

Cattle: Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2007,  Official Report, column 380W, on cattle: exports, what the journey time in hours was of all calves aged under 42 days exported to the Netherlands between 1 January and 30 April.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

Cattle: Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 64W, on cattle: exports, how many UK calves aged under 42 days died during journeys from the UK to Spain between 1 January and 30 April; how many 24 hour rest periods per journey were provided during the transport of calves from the UK to various destinations in Spain; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

Cheese: Production Methods

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the quantity of cheese manufactured in the UK from imported milk powder.

Jonathan R Shaw: The estimate of the quantity of cheese manufactured in the UK from imported milk powder is unavailable.

Departments: European Union

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in his Department are  (a) involved in assisting European Council negotiations,  (b) involved in assisting and advising the European Commission,  (c) seconded to the European Commission,  (d) involved in monitoring EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives,  (e) involved in enforcing compliance with EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives and  (f) involved in other work related to the European Council, Commission or Court of Justice.

Jonathan R Shaw: Officials throughout the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are involved in a full range of EU business. 11 officials from the Department are currently seconded to the European Commission. The Department does not hold central records of the numbers of officials involved in EU business and a breakdown of the figures as requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Departments: Manpower

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1361W, on Departments: manpower, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance given to those on the Priority Movers List.

Jonathan R Shaw: A copy has been placed in the Library.

Departments: Pay

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working at his Department and its agencies in each year between 1997 and 2006; and what the total cost of those bonuses was.

Jonathan R Shaw: Payment of non-consolidated performance bonuses reflects the principle across the civil service of rewarding performance increasingly through one-off payments rather than increases to basic salary.
	Annual performance bonuses are paid to staff in the SCS for high performance sustained throughout the whole year.
	Information on annual performance bonuses prior to November 2004 is available only at disproportionate cost, as a result of system changes.
	For 2005 and 2006, the number of annual performance bonuses awarded and the total cost of these bonuses was as follows:
	
		
			   Number of staff awarded bonuses  Total amount of bonuses paid (£) 
			 2005 148 740,877 
			 2006 131 986,632 
		
	
	The data relate to bonuses awarded to those in core-DEFRA and its Executive Agencies (excluding chief executives) in accordance with Cabinet Office arrangements.

Departments: Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last three years; and at what total cost.

Jonathan R Shaw: Data prior to November 2004, is available only at disproportionate cost. For the period from November 2004 to November 2006, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on 7 December 2006,  Official Report, column 578W.
	For the period from January 2007 to May 2007, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 69W.
	For December 2006, the month not covered by the two replies above, In-Year and Annual Performance bonuses totalling £78,218 were awarded to 154 staff below the SCS, covered by core-DEFRA pay arrangements, i.e. staff in core-DEFRA, Animal Health, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service.

Departments: Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps he has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions.

Jonathan R Shaw: 126 members of staff in core-DEFRA, Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Marine and Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service (2.2 per cent. of the total number of staff) currently make additional voluntary pension contributions through deductions from their pay.
	Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the Civil Service Pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on options for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Jonathan R Shaw: The 2006-07 Performance Management arrangements for staff in the SCS have been concluded.
	For staff below the SCS in core-DEFRA and those agencies covered by the core-Department's performance appraisal arrangements (including Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service) the process has still to be concluded.
	However, to date (up to 30 June 2007), eight staff had not achieved an acceptable mark in their 2006-07 annual report.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department have taken  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The latest sickness absence information available is for the 12 months ending on 31 March 2007. During this period, the number of staff in DEFRA who took sick absences of fewer than 5 days was as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			  (a) five or more periods 274 
			  (b) four periods 217 
			  (c) three periods 289 
			  (d) two periods 575 
		
	
	These figures include staff who left the Department during or after this 12-month period and Rural Development Service staff before they transferred to Natural England on 1 October 2006.

Environment Agency: Expenditure

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expenditure of the Shrewsbury Environment Agency's offices was in  (a) 2003,  (b) 2004,  (c) 2005 and  (d) 2006.

Phil Woolas: The Shrewsbury office was the main office for the Upper Severn Area of the Midlands Region of the Environment Agency during the period in question. The catchment extends from Market Drayton and Oswestry in the north, Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs in the west, Dudley and Wolverhampton in the east and south to Worcester and Ludlow.
	The analysis of expenditure in the following table is by financial year, which runs from April to March:
	
		
			   Spend (£ million) 
			 2003-04 13.5 
			 2004-05 16.3 
			 2005-06 15.4 
			 2006-07 13.2

Environment Agency: Flood Control

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency about revising their flood risk assessment models; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: My predecessor met with the chief executive and the head of flood risk management at the Environment Agency on 28 June and visited areas affected by the recent flooding. Risk assessment issues and the protection of vulnerable communities were discussed.
	My Department works closely with the Environment Agency on improving assessment models through joint research and development work.

Environment Agency: Motor Vehicles

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cars are  (a) owned,  (b) leased and  (c) hired by the Environment Agency for use by its (i) staff and (ii) board members.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency has 89 owned cars within its badged fleet and 4,701 leased cars. The agency hired 3,435 cars during the 2006-07 financial year with an average length of hire of 2.6 days.

Farmers: Income

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average annual earnings of farmers in  (a) Ribble Valley,  (b) the north-west and  (c) the UK in each year since 1979.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information is not available in the precise form requested and the Farm Business Survey is not able to provide figures for  (a) Ribble Valley. The following table shows average net farm income per farm in  (b) the north-west Government office region and  (c) the UK in each year since 1980-81. Data are not available on a comparable basis for earlier years.
	
		
			  Average net farm income 
			  £ per farm 
			   North-west  United Kingdom 
			 1980-81 10,788 7,013 
			 1981-82 18,460 10,005 
			 1982-83 11,519 11,341 
			 1983-84 13,734 10,714 
			 1984-85 16,163 11,817 
			 1985-86 9,630 6,675 
			 1986-87 13,296 10,011 
			 1987-88 11,733 11,571 
			 1988-89 16,082 12,319 
			 1989-90 20,311 15,482 
			 1990-91 15,995 14,288 
			 1991-92 17,621 15,250 
			 1992-93 20,558 19,166 
			 1993-94 26,134 21,923 
			 1994-95 24,006 24,123 
			 1995-96 29,009 31,776 
			 1996-97 24,389 26,027 
			 1997-98 15,082 12,213 
			 1998-99 9,086 8,512 
			 1999-2000 7,277 6,639 
			 2000-01 15,179 8,666 
			 2001-02 21,383 12,992 
			 2002-03 17,108 13,728 
			 2003-04 21,243 23,932 
			 2004-05 16,596 17,991 
			 2005-06 16,293 17,508 
			  Source: Farm Business Survey 
		
	
	Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business. It excludes all income arising from outside the farm business.

Farmers: Low Incomes

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of farmer households in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) the South West and  (c) England were below the modified low income threshold in each year for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows the number and proportion of farmer households below the modified low income threshold in Cornwall, the South West and England in 2005-06. Farm household income data are not available prior to this. Data for 2006-07 will become available in the first half of 2008.
	
		
			   Estimated number of farm households below the modified low income threshold  Estimated proportion of households below the modified low income threshold (percentage) 
			 Cornwall 800 55 
			 South West GOR 4,300 37 
			 England 19,100 31 
			  Source: Farm Business Survey, 2005-06

Farmers: Manpower

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers there were in  (a) Ribble Valley,  (b) the North West and  (c) the UK in each year since 1979; and what proportion of the total work force they made up.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows the number of farmers and total agricultural work force in  (a) Ribble Valley,  (b) the North West and  (c) England and the proportion of the total UK work force they made up for 1992-2006. These are the figures that are most readily available. Figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland fall under the jurisdiction of the devolved authorities.
	
		
			  PQ 3543 Numbers of farmers and agricultural labour in Ribble Valley local authority, the North West region and England 
			   (a) Ribble Valley 
			   Farmers  As percentage of total UK work force  Agricultural labour  As percentage of total UK work force 
			 1992 1,277 0.00 1,861 0.01 
			 1993 1,309 0.00 1,884 0.01. 
			 1994 1,290 0.00 1,887 0.01 
			 1995 1,253 0.00 1,818 0.01 
			 1996 1,266 0.00 1,803 0.01 
			 1997 1,253 0.00 1,797 0.01 
			 1998 1,255 0.00 1,795 0.01 
			 1999 1,245 0.00 1,728 0.01 
			 2000 1,274 0.00 1,646 0.01 
			 2001 1,323 0.00 1,697 0.01 
			 2002 1,278 0.00 1,639 0.01 
			 2003 1,218 0.00 (1)— (1)— 
			 2004 1,254 0.00 1,633 0.01 
			 2005 1,243 0.00 1,576 0.01 
			 2006 1,251 0.00 1,576 0.01 
		
	
	
		
			   (b) North West 
			   Farmers  As percentage of total UK work force  Agricultural labour  As percentage of total UK work force 
			 1992 27,402 0.10 46,312 0.17 
			 1993 27,605 0.10 46,147 0.17 
			 1994 27,504 0.10 46,155 0.17 
			 1995 26,461 0.09 45,148 0.16 
			 1996 26,412 0.09 45,026 0.16 
			 1997 26,199 0.09 44,593 0.16 
			 1998 26,536 0.09 44,280 0.15 
			 1999 26,024 0.09 42,020 0.14 
			 2000 27,548 0.09 41,696 0.14 
			 2001 28,670 0.10 42,413 0.14 
			 2002 27,392 0.09 40,317 0.13 
			 2003 26,601 0.09 38,340 0.13 
			 2004 27,065 0.09 39,347 0.13 
			 2005 26,824 0.09 39,097 0.13 
			 2006 27,113 0.09 39,016 0.12 
		
	
	
		
			   (c) England 
			   Farmers  As percentage of total UK work force  Agricultural labour  As percentage of total UK work force 
			 1992 213,337 0.8 420,074 1.5 
			 1993 216,094 0.8 417,619 1.5 
			 1994 215,010 0.8 410,809 1.5 
			 1995 208,050 0.7 400,887 1.4 
			 1996 207,807 0.7 396,786 1.4 
			 1997 206,421 0.7 393,105 1.4 
			 1998 208,156 0.7 396,557 1.4 
			 1999 203,362 0.7 379,018 1.3 
			 2000 220,934 0.7 374,291 1.3 
			 2001 233,738 0.8 386,732 1.3 
			 2002 225,521 0.7 371,824 1.2 
			 2003 219,123 0.7 354,381 1.2 
			 2004 224,449 0.7 367,585 1.2 
			 2005 223,008 0.7 364,891 1.2 
			 2006 223,769 0.7 361,017 1.1 
			 (1) Suppressed to maintain confidentiality. 2003 data for total labour in Ribble Valley are taken from a larger published dataset and have been suppressed to protect a total in another area where the value refers to a small number of holdings only.  Notes: 1. Figures prior to 2000 cover main holdings only. Figures from 2000 onwards include main and minor holdings. A minor holding has to meet all the following conditions: (a) have a total area of less than six hectares (b) a total labour requirement of less than 100 standard person days (c) no regular full-time farmer or worker (d) a glasshouse area of less than a 100 square metres (e) the occupier does not farm another holding 2. Estimates have been made for holdings not selected or not responding. 3. Office of National Statistics total labour force figures include all work force categories (employed, self-employed, HM forces and Government supported trainees). 4. Agricultural labour force includes: (a) principal farmers, spouses and business partners (b) salaried managers, regular and casual/gang workers 5. Due to the introduction of new questions in 1998 figures prior to this year are not directly comparable with earlier years' results. 6. Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001 labour figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results.  Sources: 1. June Agricultural Survey 2. Office for National Statistics

Flood Control: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on flood defences for Shrewsbury in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006.

Phil Woolas: Flood defence spending in Shrewsbury, over the period requested, was as follows:
	
		
			   Spend (£) 
			 2005-06 6,079,000 
			 2006-07 3,656,000 
		
	
	Expenditure is by financial year, which runs from April to March.
	The Shrewsbury office covered the Environment Agency's Upper Severn Area of the Midlands Region during 2005 and 2006.
	The catchment extends from Market Drayton and Oswestry in the north, Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs in the west, Dudley and Wolverhampton in the east and south to Worcester and Ludlow.
	Expenditure of £134,000 in 2005-06 and £43,000 in 2006-07 was incurred on temporary flood defences for Coton Hill and Coleham Head, Shrewsbury. The £3.5 million Frankwell scheme was completed in 2003-04.

Flood Protection: Urban Areas

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to protect city centres against  (a) flood events and  (b) likely impacts of climate change;
	(2)  what steps are being taken  (a) in Sheffield and  (b) at a national level to improve drainage systems in city centres to cope with (i) flood risks and (ii) climate change.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 29 June 2007
	Increased flood risk, from both rivers and the sea, is one of the top predicted impacts of climate change in the UK. We are considering the rising risk from climate change as part of our long-term strategy, 'Making Space for Water'. The strategy takes a holistic approach to the management of risk across Government, together with increasing awareness and emergency preparedness within communities to help them better cope with flood events when they occur.
	In January 2007, as part of 'Making Space for Water', we announced the start of 15 integrated urban drainage pilot studies around the country. The projects, made possible by £1.7 million of funding from DEFRA, will test new approaches to reduce the risk of urban drainage flooding, both from sewers and storm water.
	While the pilot projects will not directly fund capital improvements, they should bring greater clarity on responsibilities for funding urban drainage management between water companies, local authorities, the Environment Agency, internal drainage boards and the Highways Agency. Following completion of the pilot projects in the spring of 2008, DEFRA will produce new guidance on effective partnership working to deliver integrated drainage solutions in high-risk urban catchments and prepare a regulatory impact assessment for any proposed legislative changes.
	In addition, water companies' price limits for 2005-10 allowed a programme of nearly £1 billion to safeguard homes against the risk of sewer flooding. This would resolve or mitigate every known high-risk problem of internal flooding from overloaded sewers where companies' plans said is needed by 2010. By then the proportion of properties at risk would reduce to 0.01 per cent. of households.

Floods: Kingston upon Hull

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the planned levels of spending on the flood protection and water drainage infrastructure serving Kingston upon Hull will be re-examined to meet the effects of climate change.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency has produced a Tidal Flood Risk Management Strategy for the whole of the Humber estuary over the next 100 years. This takes into account anticipated climate change and sea level rise.
	The agency study was in the process of being extended to cover river flooding issues in and around Hull. Clearly, in the light of recent events in the city, there will be a need for the Environment Agency, the city council and Yorkshire Water to consider together the adequacy of current drainage systems as a whole and whether any further works need to be planned.

Floods: Safety Measures

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how health and safety advice is being disseminated to those whose homes have recently been flooded and who wish to re-enter and restore their properties.

Phil Woolas: Information about health risks from flooding has been published on the Health Protection Agency's website and is being disseminated via primary care trusts.

Floods: Sheffield

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any flood defence failures occurred in the recent flooding in Sheffield.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 29 June2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the then Secretary of State on 26 June 2007,  Official Report, column 163, in which he explained that it is too early to make a full assessment of the recent flooding but that there had been no reported structural failings of flood defences.

Floods: Warnings

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people in Sheffield whose homes were flooded in June 2007 who were registered with Flood Warnings Direct; at what time and at what stage in the flooding the Flood Warnings Direct warnings went out to those registered; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage people in Sheffield to register with Flood Warnings Direct.

Phil Woolas: Information on the numbers of flooded properties and those registered with Flood Warnings Direct (FWD) will be gathered after the current emergency has ended.
	Since 2000, the Environment Agency has contacted people at risk of flooding and asked them to register with FWD. The agency has also carried out a series of home visits throughout west Yorkshire to boost the number of registered properties. This is an effective way of increasing the coverage of FWD and the agency aims to repeat the process in south Yorkshire later this year.

Forestry

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much timber was harvested in England in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: The estimate of timber harvested in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available is given in the table.
	
		
			   Removals in million green tonnes 
			   Softwood ( f rom conifer trees)  Hardwood ( f rom broadleaved trees)  Total 
			 2001 1.65 0.56 2.21 
			 2002 1.51 0.54 2.05 
			 2003 1.66 0.49 2.16 
			 2004 1.73 0.45 2.18 
			 2005 1.74 0.52 2.26

Forestry

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what programmes are in place to replace areas of woodland lost to development with new areas of planting.

Joan Ruddock: There is no specific programme in place to replace areas of woodland lost to development. Nevertheless, there is significantly more new woodland created in England each year than is lost to development.

Forests: Conservation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a system is in place to monitor the conservation of ancient woodlands.

Joan Ruddock: The conservation of ancient woodland is monitored in a number of ways including the National Inventory of Woodlands and Trees, which provides data on area, ownership, species composition, age, regeneration and ecological structure of all woodland. The Ancient Woodland Inventory is updated by Natural England when changes are reported and it is being revised in some of the most well wooded parts of South East England. 15 per cent. of England's ancient woodland is in Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) where their condition is monitored.

GMOs: Potatoes

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if his Department will require BASF to conduct food safety studies of their GM blight resistant potatoes on the same lines as those required by the Irish government for trials in that country;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the potential health impacts from contamination of non-GM potato crops resulting from trials of BASF GM blight resistant potatoes.

Phil Woolas: The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has assessed these trials and is satisfied that they will not have any adverse effect on human health or the environment. Given the limited scale of the trials and the management conditions that have been imposed, it is not expected that there will be any transfer of a GM presence into non-GM potato crops. In that context, and given that the GM potatoes will not be used for food or feed, it would not be appropriate in our view to require detailed food safety studies as a pre-condition for the trials to take place. Such studies will be necessary if BASF decides in due course to seek authorisation to market the GM potatoes for food and feed use in the European Union.

Greyhounds: Animal Welfare

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the greyhound industry on the welfare of retired racing greyhounds.

Jonathan R Shaw: My ministerial predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), met representatives of the industry on 7 November 2007. He informed hon. Members about the meeting on 6 November 2007,  Official Report , column 614.

Horses: Animal Welfare

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Jockey Club on the design of racecourses and the reduction of the incidence of injuries to racehorses.

Jonathan R Shaw: There have been no discussions between DEFRA Ministers and the Jockey Club on this matter.

Housing: Environment Protection

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average  (a) energy efficiency,  (b) water efficiency and  (c) carbon dioxide emissions of homes constructed to operate unconnected to mains electricity, gas and water supply.

Phil Woolas: The Government have made no estimate of the average energy efficiency or carbon dioxide emissions from homes unconnected to mains electricity and gas supply. The requirements of part L of the Building Regulations, which set requirements for energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions, apply to all homes regardless of whether or not they are connected to mains energy supplies. Nevertheless, developers are reasonably free to determine how to meet the requirements of part L.
	The Code for Sustainable Homes and the draft Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change are designed to cut carbon emissions from new homes and promote low and zero carbon homes in the period up until 2016, when the Government have proposed that all new homes will be zero carbon.
	It is estimated that there are around 50,000 private water supplies serving about 0.6 per cent. of the population in England and Wales. No estimate has been made about the water efficiency of these dwellings, and they are not subject to the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
	DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government have jointly consulted on options for regulating for minimum standards of water efficiency in new homes and commercial buildings. If requirements were to be introduced through building regulations they would apply to all new houses irrespective of the type of water supply. The consultation closed on 9 March 2007, and we will publish responses in due course.

Inland Waterways: Pollution

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms the Environment Agency has in place to monitor levels of pollution in  (a) the River Severn,  (b) public waterways,  (c) the sewerage system,  (d) Brofiscin Quarry and  (e) Maendy Quarry; and what records the agency keeps of the potential sources of pollution.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency routinely monitors 61 sites within the fresh and estuarine waters of the River Severn. The substances assessed and frequency of monitoring vary between monitoring points. In total the monitoring undertaken covers 134 different substances and parameters.
	Many public waterways are included in the Environment Agency's routine monitoring programme. Where possible pollution incidents are identified, depending on severity these are followed up by more detailed investigations.
	Water companies are responsible for monitoring the sewerage system. The Environment Agency monitors the quality of discharges from sewage works into the water environment to check compliance with consent requirements.
	The Brofiscin and Maendy quarries are in Wales and are therefore a devolved matter.
	The Environment Agency keeps a number of records of potential sources of pollution. These include records of consented discharges to surface and groundwaters; waste management licences and authorisations for industrial processes.

Livestock: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, particularly cattle; and what studies he has commissioned or reviewed into ways of reducing their emissions.

Phil Woolas: Agriculture as a whole contributes 7 per cent. of all UK greenhouse gas emissions and 14 per cent. globally. The sector accounts for 37 per cent. of methane and 67 per cent. of nitrous oxide emissions in the UK, but only 1 per cent. of carbon dioxide. About 86 per cent. of this methane comes from enteric fermentation in the digestive systems of animals (mainly cattle, sheep, pigs and horses) and 14 per cent. from animal waste. Methane emissions from agriculture have declined by 12 per cent. since 1990.
	DEFRA has established research programmes to help build the evidence on reducing emissions from livestock through nutrition, husbandry, genetics, and nutrient management. We currently have two projects looking at both nutritional and genetic potential for reducing methane and nitrogen emissions from livestock. The first will identify feed strategies in collaboration with industry to ensure knowledge transfer, and the second will identify areas where genetic research can add value. We are also taking a critical look at the configuration of the livestock sector and how this might need to change in order to meet emissions and other environmental targets.

Livestock: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department holds on the incidence of MRSA in farm animals; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: MRSA has not been detected in farmed livestock in the UK and there is no current evidence that food-producing animals form a reservoir of infection in the UK. The organism has been isolated from dairy cows, pigs and chickens outside the UK and an ongoing assessment of the international picture is being maintained. The European Food Safety Authority is looking at the issue of MRSA in food-producing animals and considering what surveillance and other actions would be most appropriate for EU member states to undertake to address the issue. The UK is actively participating in the development of these proposals.

MRSA: Pigs

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has commissioned research into the impact of MRSA on pigs following recent cases in the Netherlands.

Jonathan R Shaw: Methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been isolated from dairy cows, pigs and chickens outside the UK and the international picture is being assessed on an ongoing basis. There is no current evidence that food-producing animals form a reservoir of infection in the UK and the organism has not been detected in farmed livestock in the UK. DEFRA has initiated a study undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to test  S. aureus isolates obtained from bovine clinical submissions for MRSA. This project commenced in autumn 2006 and, to date, more than 500 samples have been tested, with no MRSA identified.
	The issue of MRSA in other livestock species was discussed at a meeting of the DEFRA Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination MRSA subgroup in January. The subgroup was set up to advise on how best the Department can contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the role of MRSA in animals.
	Members felt that, at present, broadening the scope of work in this area should only be considered after analysis of the current findings relating to humans in the UK with MRSA infections. The particular, strain of MRSA (ST398) occurring in pigs in some other parts of Europe was not reported to have been detected so far in humans in the UK and this was a key consideration in reaching the decision taken. However, the position will be kept under active review, taking into account the latest findings in humans and animals, as well as developments in Europe and elsewhere.
	The European Food Safety Authority is also looking at the issue of MRSA in food-producing animals and considering what surveillance and other actions would be most appropriate for EU member states to undertake to address the issue. The UK is actively participating in the development of these proposals.

National Income: EC Countries

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on using a possible alternative to Gross Domestic Product for measuring economic welfare.

Jonathan R Shaw: We are not aware that the former Secretary of State had any such discussions with his EU counterparts on this issue.

Organic Food: Pesticides

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which pesticides and herbicides are permitted for use on organic food crops in the UK.

Phil Woolas: Organic production in the UK is regulated under the Compendium of UK Organic Standards.
	No herbicides are permitted in organic farming.
	The use of pesticides is restricted in organic production both in the number of products available and the uses to which they may be put. Organic farmers are encouraged to use management techniques such as rotation, use of appropriate species and protection of natural predators of specific pests. In some exceptional cases, it is recognised that further treatment is needed. In such cases, only those products listed in Annex IIB of the Compendium of UK Organic Standards can be used, subject to the conditions set out therein. I have arranged for copies of the Annex to be placed in the Libraries of the House. Any pesticide used by organic producers in the UK must also have approval from the Pesticides Safety Directorate.

Organic Food: Pesticides

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to monitor the contamination of organic food by pesticides and herbicides that are permitted for use on such crops.

Phil Woolas: In addition to the standard controls on pesticide and herbicide use, organic producers are subject to the control system outlined in the Compendium of UK Organic Standards.
	These include control of the use of external inputs. The Standards are enforced in a number of ways:
	(i) By the DEFRA and UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) approved organic inspection body that the farmer must be registered with. The farmer must be subject to at least an annual inspection by a DEFRA approved organic inspector from that body and may also be subject to further unannounced inspection visits. These inspections can (and when appropriate do) include sampling and testing. A positive result for either a non-allowed product, or an allowed product that was either incorrectly used or had not been approved for use as required, would result in the imposition of sanctions ranging from decertification of the product to decertification of the farm dependant on the severity and cause of the case.
	(ii) DEFRA organises sample surveillance inspections based on both random and risk based selection to ensure the inspection system is operated correctly by the approved organic inspection bodies.
	(iii) The Pesticides Safety Directorate undertakes a residues surveillance programme that includes organic samples, and tests all samples for a wide range of pesticides including some of those allowed in organic production. Any unusual results are passed to the Organic Team in DEFRA who ensure the information is passed to the appropriate inspection body for further investigation.
	(iv) Deliberate breaches of standards by organic operators are dealt with under The Organic Products Regulations 2004 (as amended), enforcement is undertaken by Trading Standards Officers.
	It should be noted that no herbicides are permitted for use in organic farming, and discovery of their use would result in an automatic sanction.

Pollution: Water

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of algal bloom is in Liverpool Bay; what the locations are of algal bloom in UK waters, broken down by order of severity; if his Department will take steps to treat non-toxic algal bloom accumulated on the North Wales coast; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Levels of algal blooms are recorded continuously at one site in Liverpool Bay and less regularly elsewhere. Relatively high levels of algae occur in Liverpool Bay in spring and summer, in comparison to offshore regions or shallow regions not in the vicinity of major rivers. However, they do not cause a problem and are similar to other regions around the coast of England that are in the vicinity of major rivers. An exact comparison of levels is difficult due to differences in the frequency of measuring algal blooms. They also vary greatly from year to year.
	Algal blooms eventually sink to the sea bed, and are consumed by predators or transported by tides and currents to other regions. Certain types of bloom-forming algae can, under certain conditions, be transported onto the shore and may result in visible scums along the shoreline. These present no health hazard to humans and pose a limited threat to organisms that live on the shore.
	The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for water quality in and around Wales.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 November 2003,  Official Report, column 1228W.

Research: Biotechnology

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public funding her Department has made available in each of the last 10 years to  (a) the Natural Environment Research Council and  (b) other bodies for the purposes of conducting agricultural biotechnology research.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 28 June 2007
	The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not fund the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) directly. However, DEFRA does let contracts to NERC-sponsored research institutes. DEFRA research and development (R and D) contracts all research organisations for agricultural biotechnology work are summarised in the table attached.
	For this purpose, DEFRA has defined biotechnology as being the application of biological organisms, systems and processes to manufacturing and service industries. This definition covers genetic modification research but goes much wider to include fused cell techniques, protein engineering, fermentation and cell culture techniques, the production of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies and many other techniques. It excludes pathogen characterisation and epidemiology.
	
		
			  Organisations in receipt of DEFRA R and D contracts related to agricultural biotechnology, 2000-01 to 2007-08( 1) 
			  £000 
			  Contractor  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07( 1)  2007-08( 1) 
			 ADAS UK Ltd 0 424,025 424,521 262,610 42,089 0 51,802 77,356 
			 Atkins Environment 0 0 14,981 59,856 24,892 0 0 0 
			 BBSRC (via Central Office) 0 0 0 0 0 0 20,289 20,289 
			 Botanical Developments Ltd 0 0 0 0 0 0 141,599 121,749 
			 Bristol University 198,989 297,092 324,538 234,074 86,584 52,642 0 0 
			 British Ornithologist's Union 0 0 0 10,000 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridge University 0 0 142,517 120,150 114,527 93,234 34,915 0 
			 Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association 0 31,615 30,757 110,762 172,404 164,807 61,238 0 
			 CEFAS 176,656 147,225 213,438 267,026 211,000 0 0 0 
			 Cellmark Diagnostics 0 7,500 6,000 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Central Science Laboratory 1,474,662 1,700,137 1,602,035 720,027 336,803 324,127 496,143 565,321 
			 Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research 18,831 84,422 97,192 49,617 0 0 0 0 
			 Centre for Ecology and Hydrology 0 0 0 0 0 15,4498 0 0 
			 De Montfort University 79,647 17,334 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dr David Garwes 0 0 0 0 10,000 60,000 55,000 15,000 
			 East Anglia University 56,950 17,175 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Mailing Research 0 0 0 0 424,281 510,045 522,547 379,769 
			 Forestry Research 88,712 137,100 63,226 72,433 70,423 67,254 92,895 94,525 
			 Genesis Faraday Partnership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 49,935 
			 Hannah Research Institute 11,913 48,280 49,631 36,019 0 0 0 0 
			 Horticultural Development Council 0 5,833 4,167 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Horticulture Research International 2,741,306 4,044,549 341,1758 2,741,843 721,350 589,819 479,473 389,774 
			 Institute of Food Research 0 37,334 18,666 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Institute for Animal Health 232,000 23,2000 20,2000 202,000 202,000 202,000 245,342 214,944 
			 Institute of Grassland and Environment Research 1,291,058 1,495,788 1,698,867 1,894,959 1,821,540 1,857,802 1,927,701 547,870 
			 Institute for Animal Health 232,000 232,000 202,000 202,000 202,000 202,000 245,342 214,944 
			 Institute of Grassland and Environment Research 1,291,058 1,495,788 1,698,867 1,894,959 1,821,540 1,857,802 1,927,701 547,870 
			 Institute of Zoology 37,121 79,989 48,169 0 0 0 0 0 
			 International Food Information Service 36,000 33,825 6,150 0 0 0 0 0 
			 John Innes Centre 1,232,186 1,290,963 881,815 310,017 370,379 423,700 192,464 70,998 
			 Leatherhead Food International Ltd 0 0 83,372 130,192 50,457 0 0 0 
			 Lewislive Ltd 0 0 0 60,105 0 0 0 0 
			 LGC 0 5,000 5,000 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Liverpool University 52,761 99,683 94,772 47,851 0 0 0 0 
			 LMC International 0 0 0 72,944 0 0 0 0 
			 Marine Laboratory - Aberdeen 20,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Marks and Spencer plc 0 0 0 60,500 86,043 91,455 74,844 17,226 
			 Ms Ella Livingstone 0 15,000 15,000 0 0 0 0 0 
			 National Institute of Agricultural Botany 167,190 242,546 219,493 168,485 212,597 66,760 21,930 0 
			 Natural Environment Research Council (via Central Office) 1,010,068 1,215,512 1,702,084 553,648 220,533 208,706 78,458 13,683 
			 New Game-Plan Ltd 0 0 0 0 10,431 0 0 0 
			 Newcastle University 0 0 0 24,616 48,488 75,003 78,664 49,441 
			 Plant Research International 0 0 0 0 224,085 222,516 257,470 247,682 
			 Processors and Growers Research Organisation 0 0 0 0 40,071 258,503 329,012 351,348 
			 Reading University 0 0 0 0 0 52,506 0 0 
			 RHM Group Ltd 0 155,870 120,434 120,142 0 0 0 0 
			 Roslin Institute 821,929 1,277,766 1,228,414 1,162,750 1,023,682 925,586 547,650 287,008 
			 Rothamsted Research 787,870 100,4760 964,690 974,379 953,786 656,541 492,602 503,743 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens 28,317 62,364 36,172 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Royal Society of Chemistry 0 27,789 50,879 53,816 22,608 0 0 0 
			 Scottish Agricultural College 49,202 101,736 89,758 19,839 50,935 116,058 332,068 365,486 
			 Scottish Crop Research Institute 410,328 522,924 540,834 248,181 454,404 928,836 229,528 0 
			 Silsoe Research Institute 0 81,413 271,738 183,544 108,194 0 0 0 
			 Southampton University 106,747 47,752 88,106 392,638 468,371 510,119 534,918 529,703 
			 Sutton Bonnington Campus - Nottingham University 0 29,343 72,803 43,461 0 0 0 0 
			 The University of Manchester 50,971 26,083 0 90,000 4,550 0 0 0 
			 UCNW (Bangor University) 0 56,395 65,104 5,577 0 0 0 0 
			 United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) 0 0 0 34,000 0 0 0 0 
			 University of East Anglia 0 0 157,407 35,068 0 0 0 0 
			 University of Edinburgh 0 0 0 0 0 58,440 110,723 105,942 
			 University of Exeter 0 0 0 0 86,273 196,255 67,420 71,831 
			 University of Leeds 32,401 67,310 71,792 0 36,882 0 0 0 
			 University of Nottingham 243,787 557,657 59,7814 539,861 513,907 385,17 398,673 51,083 
			 University of the West of England 0 0 50,762 97,221 135,104 124,143 0 0 
			 University of Wales, Cardiff 31282 181242 209,130 159,324 42,701 0 0 0 
			 University Wales, Aberystwth, Inst of Rural Studies 176,060 168,866 166,414 192,469 191,085 146,322 96,144 0 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 887,139 1,142,406 1,115,572 1,031,266 485,147 308,121 264,441 245,122 
			 Warwick - HRI 0 267,728 1,251,429 2,398,167 3,148,562 2,781,402 1,829,811 1,133,281 
			 York University 76,206 167,557 168,162 124,098 47,287 0 0 0 
			 Total 12,628,289 17,656,888 18677563 16,115,535 13,274,455 12,612,917 10,065,764 6,520,109 
			 (1)Figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 figures are provisional.

Research: Biotechnology

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which research projects his Department has conducted on agricultural biotechnology in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost was of each.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 28 June 2007
	A list of DEFRA research and development (R and D) contracts related to agricultural biotechnology has been placed in the Library of the House. Project titles and costs are included for all relevant R and D projects from the formation of DEFRA to the current financial year.
	For this purpose, DEFRA has defined biotechnology as being the application of biological organisms, systems and processes to manufacturing and service industries. This definition covers genetic modification research but goes much wider to include fused cell techniques, protein engineering, fermentation and cell culture techniques, the production of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies and many other techniques. It excludes pathogen characterisation and epidemiology.

Sewers: Water Companies

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date water companies will be obliged to adopt private sewers.

Phil Woolas: The Government announced on 22 February that existing private sewers and lateral drains connected to public sewers in England should be transferred into the ownership of the nine statutory water and sewerage companies. The Government undertook to consult on a range of ways the transfer could be implemented and to examine how to prevent the proliferation of new private sewers. The consultation would also pose questions on the scope of assets to be included in the transfer.
	The 12 week consultation on implementation options is planned to take place over the summer. Following this, regulations will be drafted, consulted on and amended accordingly. The timing of the process cannot be stated exactly, but the earliest date for regulations to be in force is likely to be summer 2008.

Water Supply

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of miles of English water pipes which need replacing; and how many miles of pipes will be replaced in 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: Ofwat, as the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, sets price limits every five years. Ofwat's final determination in December 2004 set out the price limits and outputs for each company for the years 2005-06 to 2009-10.
	Following the last price review in 2004, each company produced a monitoring plan covering the period up until 2010, containing estimates of the activity levels needed to achieve their outputs. The plans include the estimated length of mains renewal and relining that will be needed. The following table shows the monitoring plan estimates for companies in England for 2007-08 and overall for 2005-10.
	
		
			  Miles 
			   2005-10  2007-08 
			 Mains renewal 7,100 1,600 
			 Mains relining 3,600 750

Wood: Procurement

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of timber produced in England that is used for the manufacture of  (a) paper,  (b) chipboard and  (c) other building materials.

Joan Ruddock: Not all the information requested is available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	It is estimated that, in 2005, 277,000 green tonnes of timber harvested in England was used directly by integrated pulp and paper mills out of the UK total use of 714,000 green tonnes of UK roundwood. Use by the panel board industry, which includes chipboard, is only available as a UK total, which is 1.5 million green tonnes.
	There are no statistics for wood's use as building materials, but in 2005 construction markets were reported to take 34 per cent. of all sawnwood from larger softwood sawmills in the UK (each producing more than 5,000 cubic metres of sawnwood). Within this UK total the larger softwood mills in England sold 23 per cent. for use in construction. Not all sawn timber produced in England came from logs harvested in England.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crime: Vandalism

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to introduce the practice of recording incidents of graffiti as a separate sub-category of criminal damage; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 9 July 2007
	There are currently no plans to record incidents of graffiti as a sub-category of criminal damage.
	Information on graffiti is not routinely recorded by all police forces as part of their information on criminal damage. There is also an absence of a precise legal definition of graffiti, which would result in inconsistencies in data that is held by forces.
	Currently, the main sub-categories of recorded criminal damage are based on the type of property damaged. They are:
	Damage to a dwelling;
	Damage to a building other than a dwelling;
	Damage to a vehicle;
	Other damage;
	These four are then sub-classified according to whether the offence is racially or religiously aggravated.
	Arson (damage to property by fire, regardless of the type of property); and
	Threats, or possession with intent, to commit criminal damage.
	Police forces may have their own local methods for recording incidents of graffiti. Some local authorities have also made great efforts to make it easier for the public to report graffiti, so any attempt to estimate a total for graffiti would ideally include local authority data.

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in her Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Liam Byrne: The 2006-07 reporting year ended on 31 March 2007 and we are currently continuing to compile the report markings for staff below the grades of senior civil service. Of those reports compiled, the figures contained in the following table include the returns for unsatisfactory performing staff:
	
		
			   Number/Percentage 
			 Total reports processed 15,388 
			 of which unsatisfactory 75 
			 as percentage of processed reports 0.30

Genetics: Databases

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individual records were added to the national DNA database under section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, in each year since 2003.

Tony McNulty: Section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 amended the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to extend the power to take and retain DNA samples to all those arrested for a recordable offence. This legislation came into effect on 1 April 2004.
	The number of profiles added to the National DNA Database for each year since 1 April 2004 under this power (including those who were later charged or convicted) is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 468,177 
			 2005-06 607,940 
			 2006-07 661,433 
		
	
	It is currently estimated that 13.7 per cent. of profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates, i.e. that a profile for a person has been loaded on more than one occasion (one reason for this is that the person gave different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests). Thus these profiles refer to the following estimated numbers of individuals:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 404,037 
			 2005-06 524,652 
			 2006-07 570,817

Genetics: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many profiles were loaded onto the national DNA database in each quarter of each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The number of profiles added to the National DNA Database (NDNAD) for each quarter of the last five years is set out in the following table . It is currently estimated that 13.7 per cent. of profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates, i.e. that a profile for a person has been loaded on more than one occasion (one reason for this is that the person gave different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests). Thus, the number of individuals on the database is approximately 13.7 per cent. less than the number of subject profiles. The presence of these replicate profiles on the NDNAD does not impact on the effectiveness and integrity of the database. Nonetheless, a long-term exercise is under way to identify issues associated with the removal of all such redundant replicate profiles.
	
		
			  Number of profiles added 
			   First quarter  Second quarter  Third quarter  Fourth quarter 
			 2002-03 127,915 125,899 113,383 121,322 
			 2003-04 110,049 120,337 106,326 138,585 
			 2004-05 112,209 124,276 145,672 138,961 
			 2005-06 156,685 169,133 184,936 204,391 
			 2006-07 175,598 209,495 171,807 165,564 
			 2007-08 154,496 — — —

Police: Pay

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to make changes to the system of police pay.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 9 July 2007
	Effective and affordable pay arrangements are essential for a modern police service. I announced to the House last November a review of police pay arrangements. We are working with ACPO, the APA and the staff associations and trade unions in the police to progress this.

Stop and Search

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Taunton, of 12 June 2007,  Official Report, column 977W, on stop and search, what data are held on the offences for which people were arrested.

Jacqui Smith: The section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 Stop and Search aggregated collection, held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, records resultant arrests either in connection with terrorism or for other reasons. The specific offences for which persons are arrested are not recorded.

Stop and Search: Forms

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations or guidance there is on the design of forms issued by police forces to people who are stopped and searched under counter-terror legislation.

Jacqui Smith: Comprehensive guidance on all aspects of stop and search, including the use and importance of forms, was published by CENTREX in July last year. This guidance can be found at
	http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/Stoppercent20&percent20Searchpercent20lnteractive_29.06.06.pdf
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Theft: Bicycles

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stolen bicycles were recovered by each police authority in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. There is no requirement for police forces to notify the Home Office of the number of stolen bicycles that are recovered.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departments: Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last three years; and at what total cost.

Anne McGuire: The answer is in the following table.
	Performance bonus payments are awarded to employees on the basis of their individual performance. They are paid after the completion of the performance year. The expenditure incurred is as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1:  Amount paid in performance bonuses to DWP staff since 2002 and the numbers of staff receiving bonuses 
			  Financial year  Total paid (£ million)  Number of employees receiving bonus 
			 2004-05 38.61 129,855 
			 2005-06 42.82 123,285 
			 2006-07 40.68 116,096 
		
	
	In addition to individual performance bonus payments, DWP also paid team bonuses to selected units within the Department. The expenditure incurred is as follows:
	
		
			  Table 2:  Amount paid in team bonuses to DWP staff since 2002 and the numbers of staff receiving bonuses 
			   Total paid (£ million)  Total number receiving bonus 
			 2004-05 3.3 11,250 
			 2005-06 Not applicable Not applicable 
			 2006-07 Not applicable Not applicable 
			  Notes: 1. The information in Table 1 is based on the numbers of staff recorded on the DWP payroll systems as having received a qualifying performance mark. These are a headcount. 2. The performance bonus is paid in the financial year following the performance year of 1 April to 31 March. 3. Some individuals may have received more than one type of bonus payment in any given year, which is why the information has been presented separately, and not as an aggregated total. 4. The numbers of employees receiving a team bonus are approximations. No team bonus schemes have run since 2004-05. 5. The answer to PQ/06/101034 in November 2006 provided details of bonuses paid from 2002-03 to 2006-07. Information on bonuses paid in the 2007-08 financial year is not yet available. DWP are still in pay negotiations with trade unions, and payment of the senior civil service bonus has been postponed until November 2007. 
		
	
	Individuals may also be entitled to special bonus payments. The cost in a typical year for these bonuses is around £3 million with payments made to approximately 17,000 individuals (based on 2005-06 payments).

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Anne McGuire: Departmental performance figures for our employees are currently being collated for the 2006-07 Performance year. In line with previous years' publication dates, these are due to be published in September.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department have taken  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  DWP employee's sick leave periods of less than five calendar days in the 12 months  ended 31 March 2007 
			  Number of periods  Number of staff 
			 2 18,866 
			 3 9,554 
			 4 4,430 
			 5 or more 5,045 
			 Total 37,895

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1748W, on Smith Institute: finance, what details his Department holds on this training course; what use has been made of this think tank for training departmental staff; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available other than at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Translation Services

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount his Department has spent  (a) on translating documents and  (b) translating websites into other languages.

Anne McGuire: The Department and its businesses produce translated materials where relevant and according to the needs of each target audience. In 2006-07, the Department centrally spent around £267,500 on translation services related to communications. Details of other translation costs are not held centrally and can be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Low Incomes: Agriculture

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of farmers in  (a) Ribble Valley,  (b) the North West and  (c) the UK who are living below the poverty line.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 3 July 2007
	The information requested is not available.

New Deal Schemes: Expenditure

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on the New Deal programme in each year since 1998.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 4 June 2007,  Official Report, column 32W.

Pensions: Financial Assistance Scheme

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applicant pension schemes' qualification status for the Financial Assistance Scheme are undecided; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: As at 29 June 2007 the Financial Assistance Scheme has received formal applications from 894 pension schemes of which 27 remain undecided.

Social Security Benefits: Epilepsy

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people registered for disability benefit on the grounds of having epilepsy in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) claimants whose main disabling condition is epilepsy (quarter ending) 
			   DLA  AA 
			  As at November:   
			 2002 52,620 4,980 
			 2003 54,730 4,880 
			 2004 56,570 4,760 
			 2005 57,770 4,600 
			 2006 60,070 4,490 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  3. Totals include those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.  4. Where the claimant is eligible for both care and mobility components of DLA, the disabling condition associated with the mobility component is shown here. Where more than one disability is present only the main disabling condition is recorded.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS.

SCOTLAND

First Minister

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are in place for liaison with the First Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: There is regular contact between UK Ministers and counterparts in the Scottish Executive on a range of policy matters. I met the First Minister on 30 June and plan to do so again soon. I look forward to working constructively with him on the wide range of matters of importance to Scotland.

Defence Bases

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence on the future of defence bases in Scotland.

Des Browne: I have regular discussions with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence on a range of subjects.

Business Environment

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government are taking to ensure a long-term stable environment for Scottish business.

David Cairns: Through this Government's economic policies, solid macro-economic foundations have been established ensuring long-term stability for Scotland's businesses. Stable inflation, low interest rates and contained borrowing have maintained the necessary conditions for the sustained economic growth that the United Kingdom enjoys.

Minimum Wage

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs on monitoring of the payment of the minimum wage in Scotland.

David Cairns: There is a service level agreement between HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Officials meet on a regular basis to review performance.

Medical Research Council

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on funding in Scotland by the Medical Research Council.

David Cairns: The Medical Research Council (MRC) funds medical research throughout the UK. The MRC spent £44.2 million in Scotland during 2005-06, which amounts to approximately 11 per cent. of its total research spend.

Post Offices

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the future of post offices in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend on a range of issues.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Convictions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of cases brought for prosecution by the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland resulted in convictions in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Defendants dealt with in the magistrates courts in Northern Ireland: percentage conviction  rates 2004-05 to 2006-07 (number  and percentage)( 1,2) 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Convicted (on at least one count) 7,322 10,600 16,482 
			 Acquitted (all counts) 1,194 1,733 2,781 
			 Total 8,516 12,333 19,263 
			 Percentage conviction rate 86.0 85.9 85.6 
			 (1) Figures refer to prosecutions conducted by the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions/Public Prosecution Service only. The increase in caseload over the period 2004-05 to 2006-07 may be attributed to the implementation of the Public Prosecution Service, commencing with a Pilot Project in South Belfast Police District (from 1 December 2003). (2) It should be noted that the calculation of the percentage conviction rate has been amended to bring the service into line with the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales. The main change is focused on the category 'acquitted' which now includes defendants in respect of whom all charges were withdrawn prior to commencement of trial. The conviction rate figures quoted above therefore differ from those quoted previously in the 2005-06 PPS annual report. 
		
	
	
		
			  Defendants dealt with in the Crown court in Northern Ireland: percentage conviction rates 2004-05 to 2006-07 (numbe r  and percentage) 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Convicted (on at least one count) 1,409 1,333 1,434 
			 Acquitted (all counts)(1) 221 207 215 
			 Total 1,630 1,540 1,649 
			 Percentage conviction rate 86.4 86.6 87.0 
			 (1) Includes the following outcome categories: 'Crown offered no evidence', 'Prosecution stayed' and 'Not to be proceeded with'.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost is of all private finance initiative projects for which his Department has responsibility completed since 1997; and what the projected cost is of such projects commissioned or under way.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not have any Private Finance Initiative projects.
	The NIO has an off-balance sheet commitment under Public Private Partnership (PPP) which is the Causeway project. The Causeway project is a partnership between Fujitsu Services and the NIO. The PPP contract was let with Fujitsu in August 2003 to deliver a managed service related to the electronic sharing of information across the criminal justice organisations in Northern Ireland over a 10 year period. The total cost of the contract is £27 million.

Paedophilia

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to protect young children from sex offenders in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The PSNI recognise the very real and genuine concerns regarding the protection of young children from sex offenders. Specific measures include the 'Multi-agency Sex Offender Risk Assessment and Risk Management' process, which involves PSNI, Northern Ireland Probation Service, Northern Ireland Prison Service, Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and representatives from the voluntary sector. The primary purpose of the agencies' work is to help protect the public from harm by reducing the opportunities available for offenders to gain access to victims, and also to reduce their propensity to offend at all.
	Effective collaboration is also incorporated into the day-to-day work of police officers and social workers, to ensure that the welfare of children remains paramount. These measures are enshrined in the 'Protocol for Joint Investigation by Social Workers and Police Officers' and in the Area Child Protection Policy and Procedures documents.
	Police are also actively involved in various other campaigns around this issue, for example, 'Stop-it-Now'—a campaign which encourages early recognition and responses to the problem, and 'Leisurewatch' (currently piloting in three areas) whereby leisure staff are trained to be observant and aware of ways to minimise the risks from sex offenders.
	The PSNI are making active and ongoing efforts to protect children throughout Northern Ireland from sex offenders both on a strategic and on a practical level.

Police: Early Retirement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers have retired on medical grounds in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: In the last 12 months, up to 30 June 2007, 42 officers were retired on medical grounds.

Prisons: Manpower

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to  (a) maintain and  (b) increase staffing levels in prisons in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The overall staffing position of the Northern Ireland Prison Service is kept under regular review. The target staffing level baseline for uniform staff was reviewed and adjusted from 1 April 2007 to take account of existing and projected staffing needs in light of an increasing prisoner population. In addition, the service has reviewed the grades and skills needed to reflect greater emphasis on prisoner engagement, education and rehabilitation work. New types of operational and support staff have been introduced over the past two years and approximately 200 such staff have been recruited. The service is continuing to recruit new grades of staff.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children: Day Care

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many childcare places  (a) opened and  (b) closed in 2005-06.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of childcare places that have opened and closed in 2005-06, England 
			   Number 
			  Opened 214,800 
			 Childminders 48,800 
			 Full day care 90,900 
			 Out of school 75,200 
			   
			  Closed 144,600 
			 Childminders 44,800 
			 Full day care 48,700 
			 Out of school 51,100 
			   
			  Net steady state changes( 1) +8,900 
			 Childminders +2,100 
			 Full day care +5,600 
			   
			 Out of school +1,200 
			  Net change +79,100 
			 (1) The net steady state refers to registered providers whose registration status has not changed, but whose number of places has fluctuated over the period in question.   Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100.   Source: Ofsted 
		
	
	Ofsted have produced figures on the numbers of registered childcare providers and places on a quarterly basis from March 2003. Their latest published figures are available on their website
	www.Ofsted.gov.uk/

Children: Day Care

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to encourage diversity of provision in childcare.

Beverley Hughes: The Government believe that the best child care market is a diverse one which offers parents real choice about the type of child care they can access. Accordingly, the Childcare Act 2006 builds on our 10-year child care strategy to help maintain and strengthen the great diversity that already exists.
	The Act requires local authorities to complete, by April 2008, an assessment of the sufficiency of child care in their area, including the extent to which parents' requirements for different types of provision are being satisfied, It then requires local authorities to secure the provision of sufficient child care to meet the requirements of working parents, with particular attention to the needs of those with low incomes or disabled children.
	From October this year, the Act will place a restriction on local authorities providing child care where there are alternative and appropriate means of delivery available in the market. Before providing new child care themselves, local authorities will have to determine whether another provider is willing to provide it and whether it is appropriate, in all the circumstances, for the authority to provide the child care itself.

Children: Day Care

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received on provision of Care to Learn support for teenage mothers who commence a course over the age of 19 years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 July 2007
	The Department and the Learning and Skills Council have received representations from various bodies to further extend Care to Learn support to young adult parents who want to go into learning and have difficulty accessing child care. We extended Care to Learn to 19-year-olds in August 2006 and teenage parents receiving Care to Learn support can carry on receiving help past their 20th birthday while they continue on their course.
	As I announced on 28 July, I am making available an additional £75 million, over the next three years, to support 50,000 workless families with child care to help them access training and move into work.

Children's Centres

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment has been made of the effect of Sure Start children's centres in areas where there is existing sufficient nursery provision provided by the private, voluntary and independent sector.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start children's centres serving communities in the most disadvantaged areas must include, as part of their offer to parents, integrated full day care and early learning places for children under five. In many cases, this will build on existing provision, like Sure Start Local programmes or Neighbourhood Nurseries. 58 per cent. of children's centres have child care provided by the private, voluntary or independent sectors. In less disadvantaged areas, if existing provision is meeting parents' needs centres will simply provide parents with advice and information about local child care options.
	In planning their children's centres, local authorities must consult with existing private, voluntary and independent child care providers to determine the best way of ensuring parents have access to sufficient, good quality provision. In addition, from October this year, the Childcare Act 2008 will place a restriction on local authorities providing child care where there are alternative and appropriate means of delivery available in the market.
	The assessments of child care sufficiency that local authorities are required to complete by April 2008 can be expected to give a clear indication of how child care provided by Sure Start children's centres fits with other child care in their areas. Local authorities will be expected to act in accordance with their assessments when fulfilling the duty to secure, from April 2008, sufficient child care for working parents.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Stockton South

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students in Stockton, South claimed education maintenance allowance in each year since it was introduced, broken down by ward of residence.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the DCSF and hold the information about take-up and payments under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, has written to my hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 5 July 2007:
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question that asked: "How many students in Stockton South claimed education maintenance allowance in each year since it was introduced; broken down by ward of residence."
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level, but not at Ward level EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	EMA take-up for Stockton-on-Tees Local Authority area during each academic year since inception is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004/05 945 
			 2005/06 1,768 
			 2006/07 (1)2,359 
			 (1 )To end of May. 
		
	
	EMA Take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06 and to date in 2006/07 are now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:
	http://www Isc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take _up.htm
	I hope you find this information useful.

Nursery Schools: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) safeguards are in place and  (b) checks are made to ensure that local authorities are sufficiently funding the free entitlement to early years education for three and four year olds.

Beverley Hughes: The code of practice on the provision of free nursery education places for three and four-year-olds is statutory guidance to which local authorities must have regard, when planning and managing the delivery of the free entitlement. The code requires local authorities to ensure settings are funded equitably, transparently and fairly, according to local need and market dynamics. My letter in December 2006, to all local authority chief executives asked them to reassure themselves that their funding levels support a diverse local childcare market and take into account provider sustainability. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that funding is allocated and spent appropriately.
	Last month, we announced a series of changes to how local authorities fund the free entitlement to early learning and care for three and four-year-olds, designed to ensure that local funding allocations are transparent and consistent across the sectors, and give providers stability to plan for the future and improve quality.
	Availability of free early years education is within the scope of Ofsted's annual performance assessments of local authority children's services.

Pre-school Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what exemptions there are for  (a) Waldorf and Steiner kindergartens and  (b) Montessori pre-schools from the proposed new guidelines for working with pre-school children; and what consultations his Department has held on (i) these exemptions and (ii) whether the guidelines are legally enforceable.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 July 2007
	Currently all Waldorf Steiner kindergartens and Montessori pre-schools offering the free entitlement to 3 and 4-year-olds must comply with the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage. No exemptions have been sought, or granted, from the Foundation Stage.
	From September 2008 the Foundation Stage will be superseded by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which will be a statutory requirement for all early years providers and will be legally enforceable. The Government carried out a formal public consultation between 1 March and 24 May 2007 on the circumstances under which exemptions to the Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development requirements might be granted and the process for such exemptions. I am considering the responses to the consultation exercise and the representations made by Waldorf Steiner and Montessori and expect to publish the Government's response to the consultation this month and regulations will follow in the autumn. The Early Years Foundation Stage is a very flexible set of requirements which is designed to be inclusive and compatible with the vast majority of educational philosophies.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether local authorities are entitled legally to ask to inspect the financial accounts of private, voluntary and independent sector nurseries, pre-schools and day care providers relating to activities that are not directly funded by public money for free early years education places for three and four-year-olds.

Beverley Hughes: The code of practice on the delivery of nursery education places for 3 and 4-year-olds is statutory guidance to which local authorities must have regard when planning and managing the delivery of the free entitlement. The code states that local authorities should put in place appropriate accounting and auditing procedures to ensure that funding paid in respect of free places is administered properly. Local authorities do so, in consultation with providers, through delegated local conditions of funding, which may in some cases require settings to provide access to accounts relating to administration of public funding. Local authorities may also ask providers for sight of their accounts in order to assess their financial viability before contracting with or providing funding to the setting. However, settings are under no obligation to comply with requests for inspection of accounts related to activity not undertaken in respect of public funding.

Pre-school Education: Southern Region

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost per capita to nurseries, pre-schools and daycare providers in  (a) Kent and  (b) south east England of delivering the free 2.5 hour early years session for three and four year olds;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the level of funding per capita for the free 2.5 hour early years session for three and four year olds that is being passed onto  (a) private, voluntary and independent sector nurseries, pre-schools and daycare providers and  (b) maintained sector nurseries, pre-schools and daycare providers by each local education authority in south east England.

Beverley Hughes: The free entitlement is delivered by a very diverse range of providers in the maintained, private, and voluntary and independent sectors, which would make it impossible to identify a single unit cost for delivery of nursery education and care.
	Because of this diversity. local authorities—in consultation with their school forums—are responsible for deciding how best to apply their total school and early years funding across all age groups and between different types of provider, based on an assessment of local circumstances. The code of practice on the provision of free nursery education places for three and four-year-olds requires local authorities to ensure settings are funded equitably, transparently and fairly, reflecting local need.
	At national level, estimated expenditure on under 5s by local authorities in 2005-06, the latest year for which outturn data is available, is £3,473 million The Department is currently working with authorities to produce estimates of the level of funding allocated to early years in each local authority and its distribution between the PVI and maintained sectors in 2005-06 and 2006-07. We intend to collate and publish these estimates in August so that authorities can benchmark their approaches to funding the free entitlement. This is part of a wider package of reforms of the early years funding system announced on 25 June 2007 and available at
	www.teachernet.gov.uk/schoolfunding2008to11

School Meals: Take-Up

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 372-3W, on school meals: take-up, whether the 4 per cent. target relates exclusively to lunches.

Kevin Brennan: The strategy to increase demand by at least 4 percentage points by March 2008 relates exclusively to school lunches.

Schools: Hyperactivity

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure schools adhere to regulations on the use of social, behavioural and psychological interventions in conjunction with the prescription of Ritalin to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder;
	(2)  what training and support is provided to teachers and school staff to help them provide for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Kevin Brennan: Local authorities, schools, early education settings and those who help them—including health and social services—must have regard to the special educational needs (SEN) code of practice (2001), These bodies must fulfil their statutory duties towards children with SEN in the light of the guidance in the code of practice.
	Although there are no regulations on interventions, 'Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings' DfES/DH (2005) is designed to help all schools and all early years settings and their employers develop policies on managing medicines, and to put in place effective management systems to support individual children with medical needs. It provides specific advice on the supply, possession and administration for controlled drugs such as methylphenidate (commercial name Ritalin). Where a child has an ongoing health need, including medicines, schools are advised to produce an individual health care plan for a child with medical needs that identifies the level of support that is needed.
	The SEN code and 'Managing Medicines' guidance make clear that education staff should work closely with, and take advice from health professionals to form the whole 'package' of support required for children taking medicines as a means of managing a special educational need or disability.
	In order to be awarded qualified teacher status, all trainee teachers must demonstrate that they understand their responsibilities under the code, know how to seek advice from specialists on less common types of SEN, can differentiate their teaching to meet the needs of pupils, including those with SEN, and can identify and support pupils who experience behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.
	We are proposing that from September 2007 the standards for qualified teacher status will be strengthened to require teachers to know and comply with current legislation on the well-being of children and young people, to know and understand the role of others when dealing with children who have SEN or disabilities, and to communicate effectively with parents and carers.
	The current induction standards require newly qualified teachers to demonstrate that they can plan effectively to meet the needs of pupils in their classes with SEN, with or without a statement. The standards also demand that they work collaboratively with both other teachers and specialists to ensure that provision is suitable for SEN pupils. The revised standards framework will reinforce, build on and strengthen the current standards surrounding SEN.
	All schools receive a school development grant which they are able to use to support improvements in any aspect of teaching and learning. A wide variety of courses are available covering SEN, ranging from awareness-raising through to in-depth studies leading to specific qualifications. It is, however, a matter for individual teachers, other staff and their schools to determine their own particular training and development needs. Local authorities may retain a proportion of this grant, under certain conditions, to provide specific training and development of SEN.
	We are also launching later this year an inclusion development programme (IDP) which will deliver continuing professional development for teachers and other staff, in key areas of SEN. The opening round will focus on children with speech, language and communication needs and dyslexia as the ability to communicate is fundamental to learning and progression. The IDP will subsequently address behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, including children with ADHD.

Sure Start Programme: Standards

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Sure Start outreach programmes.

Beverley Hughes: There is a comprehensive national level evaluation of Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs) in place, which began in January 2001 and will run until 2008. Outreach is part of the core work SSLPs are expected to deliver, and is a theme that runs through much of the evaluation. In particular, the study "Outreach and Home Visiting in Sure Start Local Programmes(1)" (November 2006) provides extensive information evaluating how far outreach and home visiting are contributing to the aim of Sure Start.
	(1) Outreach and Home Visiting in Sure Start Local Programmes, November 2006. NESS Report 17; DfES HMSO. Ball, M. and Niven, L. (2006)

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Higher Education: Admissions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he is taking to promote fair access to higher education.

Bill Rammell: Widening participation in higher education is both an economic and social necessity. Everyone who has the potential and qualifications to succeed in higher education, whatever their family background, should have the opportunity to participate. That is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills announced on 5 July a further package of improvements to the financial support available in England to students from hard working families on modest incomes; so that no one from such backgrounds is held back from realising their potential by concerns about the affordability of university study. Alongside those arrangements, we have the Aimhigher programme, raising aspiration and attainment levels amongst those currently under-represented in higher education; the Office for Fair Access, ensuring that institutions charging variable tuition fees for their courses safeguard and promote fair access through bursaries and other financial and outreach work; and the work of the higher education sector to reform the current university application system so that it is more transparent, efficient and fairer.

Higher Education: Business

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to encourage closer working between business and universities.

Bill Rammell: Many higher education institutions (HEIs) are already highly successful in engaging both public and private sector employers. However, if we are to realise the stretching ambition set for us by Lord Leitch, and transform the UK into a truly world-class skills economy by 2020, then we will need to scale up the number of working adults who are engaged in higher-level learning, and this in turn will necessitate even greater engagement between employers and HEIs. A growing list of universities have expressed an intention to make their core mission "business facing"; several of these have already received grants from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to take forward employer engagement projects which will help to build capacity and develop best practice.
	The grant letter sent to HEFCE by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in January 2007 set out an expectation for 5,000 additional student places in demand-led, employer co-funded provision in the academic year 2008-09, and asked HEFCE to develop a growth strategy to deliver at least an additional 5,000 entrants year-on-year over the comprehensive spending review period. HEFCE have invited HEIs and Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) to develop joint proposals to respond to its allocation of the 5,000 additional co-funded places.

Higher Education: Student Numbers

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department is responsible for Aimhigher and other Widening Participation activities in schools; and how he plans to ensure that schools and universities continue to work together to improve access to higher education.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is responsible for widening participation in higher education, including the Aimhigher programme. The Aimhigher programme, in particular, brings together universities, colleges and schools in partnership to raise the attainment levels of young people and their aspirations towards higher education. Higher education institutions themselves will also often have well developed programmes of activities to raise the aspirations of pupils in schools and colleges which are built on strong local partnerships. These links are already well established and I will continue to work closely with my colleagues in the Department for Children, Schools and Families to ensure they are maintained and strengthened.
	Improving the attainment and outcomes at all stages of education for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly low socio-economic groups, is a shared Government objective. As part of our strategy to widen participation my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills announced on 5 July a further package of improvements to the financial support available in England to students from hard working families on modest incomes; so that no one from such backgrounds is held back from realising their potential by concerns about the affordability of university study. This package includes an expansion of the popular and successful Student Associate Scheme involving high achieving HE students helping out as mentors and assistants in school classrooms where, as role models, they can inspire young people to achieve and progress into higher education. Our two Departments will continue to work together on this and a range of other programmes.

Learning Disability: Prisoners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of prisoners had  (a) learning disabilities and  (b) dyslexia over the last 10 years.

David Lammy: holding answer 9 July 2007
	 The information requested is not available centrally. The 'No One Knows' research report recently published by the Prison Reform Trust, suggests that between 20- 30 per cent. of offenders have learning difficulties or learning disabilities.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Electricity: Meters

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what factors underlay the decision to set a 10 year time frame for the roll out of smart meters.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Energy White Paper, the Government made clear their expectation that smart meters would be rolled out within 10 years. The industry has confirmed that this broad timeframe is achievable, but we will test this as we develop our policy over the coming months.

Energy Supply: Solar Power

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much electricity installed photovoltaic generation has contributed to the UK electricity supply through the national grid in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The latest available data are as follows:
	
		
			  GWh 
			   Generation from photovoltaic sources transferred to the public distribution system  Total electricity supplied 
			 2001 1.5 371,187 
			 2002 2.2 368,979 
			 2003 2.4 374,469 
			 2004 3.6 373,401 
			 2005 7.5 379,485 
			  Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2006. 
		
	
	The proportion of total photovoltaic energy generation supplied to the grid is estimated. The proportion of UK electricity supplied accounted for by photovoltaics is in each year less than 0.01 per cent.

EU External Trade: Agriculture

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what concessions on agricultural subsidies were offered by the European Union at discussions with the United States, Brazil and India in Potsdam.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The 19-21 June meeting of the G4 Ministers (US, EU, India and Brazil) failed to reach convergence on the Doha Development Agenda. This means that the focus now returns to Geneva and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a whole. We can expect WTO Chairs' texts to come forward very soon and the WTO Director General, Lamy, to lead the process.
	At the beginning of April 2007, the G6 (India, Brazil, US, EU, Japan and Australia) all committed to conclude negotiations by the end of the year. The Government remain committed to achieving an ambitious outcome this year. We believe that this remains possible providing all parties show the necessary flexibility and commitment.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the increase has been in the overall committed spend figure under the domestic stream of the Low Carbon Buildings programme since its relaunch on 29 May; and what assessment he has made of the likely spend by summer 2008.

Malcolm Wicks: When the Chancellor announced in the Budget 2007 that an additional £6 million would be made available for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme household stream, we took the opportunity to suspend this funding stream, as it provided us with the opportunity to consult widely over how to use the remaining funds through to scheme closure.
	By the time we suspended the household stream on 21 March 2007, we had committed £6,456,091 to 3,988 household projects. Since re-launching the scheme on 29 May 2007, we have to date committed a further £624,316 to 629 household projects, with a much more even spread of funds committed across the technologies.
	With the increased flexibility that the removal of the monthly cap provides, we cannot predict future spend with any certainty. However, we will continue to monitor and report on grant commitments and payments going forward.

National Grid: Carbon Emissions

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the carbon content is of grid electricity; and what targets the Government are setting to reduce that carbon content.

Malcolm Wicks: According to table 5C published in the current "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics" (paragraph 5.45, http://www.dtistats.net/energystats/dukes06_c5.pdf), UK power stations emitted 124 tonnes of carbon per gigawatt hour (GWh) of electricity supplied during 2005 on average.
	The Government do not target the carbon content of UK electricity generation at present.

Nuclear Power Stations: Design

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which vendors of nuclear reactor designs had submitted letters to the regulator's joint programme office by 30 June nominating the designs for which they intend to seek generic design assessment in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The closing date for applications for generic design assessment of nuclear reactor designs to reach the regulator's joint programme office was 22 June 2007.
	We received four applications by this date. These were from: AECL, AREVA, GE-Hitachi and Toshiba-Westinghouse. A press notice was issued on 5 July 2007 accordingly.
	All applications and supporting letters of endorsement will be published on the Department's website in due course.

Power Stations: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received on the future use of Buildwas power station.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has received no representations on the future of Buildwas (Ironbridge) power station.

TREASURY

Average Earnings

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what average hourly pay was for each  (a) quartile,  (b) decile and  (c) duo-decile in each year since 1992.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what average hourly pay was for each (a) quartile, (b) decile and (c) duo-decile in each year since 1992. (148767)
	Levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and from the New Earnings Survey (NES), and are provided for all full-time employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	I attach tables showing, where available, the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 55th, 60th, 65th, 70th, 75th, 80th, 85th, 90th and 95th percentile of Gross Hourly Pay, corresponding to each quartile, decile, and duo-decile. It is not possible to obtain deciles and duo-deciles from the New Earnings Survey results, other than the published 10th and 90th deciles. Therefore only these deciles, and the published quartiles, are available prior to 1997.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It replaced NES from 2004, although ASHE methodology has been applied to NES datasets to provide continuous results from 1997 onwards. Both surveys feature a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		
			  Gross hourly earnings for all full-time employee( 1)  jobs 
			  £ 
			   5th percentile  10th percentile  15th percentile  20th percentile  25th percentile  30th percentile 
			 1992 — 3.80 — — 4.80 — 
			 1993 — 3.91 — — 4.97 — 
			 1994 — 4.02 — — 5.09 — 
			 1995 — 4.04 — — 5.19 — 
			 1996 — 4.20 — — 5.39 — 
			 1997(2) 3.78 4.37 4.84 5.26 5.68 6.07 
			 1998 3.98 4.56 5.03 5.49 5.92 6.34 
			 1999 4.18 4.79 5.27 5.74 6.17 6.61 
			 2000 4.38 4.99 5.49 5.97 6.40 6.84 
			 2001 4.58 5.20 5.72 6.21 6.67 7.15 
			 2002 4.81 5.44 5.99 6.47 6.97 7.45 
			 2003 5.02 5.68 6.22 6.74 7.23 7.73 
			 2004 excl. 5.23 5.91 6.49 7.02 7.54 8.07 
			 2004 inc.(3) 5.19 5.84 6.40 6.94 7.45 7.98 
			 2005 5.35 6.00 6.60 7.15 7.68 8.21 
			 2006 5.55 6.24 6.84 7.41 7.95 8.52 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			   35th percentile  40th percentile  45th percentile  55th percentile  60th percentile  65th percentile 
			 1992 — — — — — — 
			 1993 — — — — — — 
			 1994 — — — — — — 
			 1995 — — — — — — 
			 1996 — — — — — — 
			 1997(2) 6.49 6.93 7.41 8.49 9.10 9.78 
			 1998 6.77 7.21 7.71 8.84 9.51 10.24 
			 1999 7.05 7.52 8.04 9.20 9.87 10.66 
			 2000 7.30 7.78 8.32 9.55 10.25 11.07 
			 2001 7.64 8.14 8.70 10.00 10.76 11.60 
			 2002 7.96 8.50 9.08 10.45 11.24 12.16 
			 2003 8.25 8.78 9.40 10.81 11.65 12.58 
			 2004 excl. 8.62 9.21 9.87 11.35 12.19 13.13 
			 2004 inc.(3) 8.53 9.10 9.74 11.22 12.04 12.97 
			 2005 8.78 9.38 10.04 11.58 12.45 13.45 
			 2006 9.11 9.74 10.44 12.02 12.94 13.99 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			   70th percentile  75th percentile  80th percentile  85th percentile  90th percentile  95th percentile 
			 1992 — 9.09 — — 12.94 — 
			 1993 — 9.55 — — 13.44 — 
			 1994 — 9.76 — — 13.76 — 
			 1995 — 10.17 — — 14.4 — 
			 1996 — 10.61 — — 15.11 — 
			 1997(2) 10.58 11.52 12.60 14.07 16.09 19.88 
			 1998 11.07 12.04 13.18 14.69 16.90 21.10 
			 1999 11.52 12.55 13.78 15.36 17.75 22.15 
			 2000 11.99 13.04 14.27 15.91 18.37 23.20 
			 2001 12.60 13.73 15.05 16.81 19.60 25.23 
			 2002 13.18 14.36 15.75 17.65 20.60 26.60 
			 2003 13.62 14.82 16.31 18.26 21.27 27.37 
			 2004 excl. 14.22 15.41 16.96 18.99 22.18 28.44 
			 2004 inc.(3) 14.07 15.32 16.79 18.77 21.83 27.84 
			 2005 14.58 15.91 17.50 19.57 22.86 29.08 
			 2006 15.18 16.50 18.16 20.34 23.71 30.31 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (2) Figures from 1992 to 1996 are taken from the New Earnings Survey, and are for GB only. Figures from 1997 to 2006 are from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are for the UK. (3) In 2004 additional supplementary surveys were introduced to improve the coverage of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Figures are presented both excluding and including the additional surveys for comparison purposes.  Source: New Earnings Survey; Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Average Earnings

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) mean and  (b) median hourly pay was in each year since 1992.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the  (a) mean and  (b) median hourly pay was in each year since 1992. (148768)
	Levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and from the New Earnings Survey (NES), and are provided for all full-time employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	I attach a table showing the mean and median Gross Hourly Pay for all full-time employees, for the years 1992-2006.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It replaced NES from 2004, although ASHE methodology has been applied to NES datasets to provide continuous results from 1997 onwards. Both surveys feature a one per cent. sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		
			  Gross hourly earnings for all employee( 1)  a jobs 
			   Mean  Median 
			 1992 7.50 6.44 
			 1993 7.84 6.70 
			 1994 8.03 6.85 
			 1995 8.31 7.08 
			 1996 8.71 7.37 
			 1997(2) 9.31 7.92 
			 1998 9.82 8.26 
			 1999 10.26 8.60 
			 2000 10.71 8.91 
			 2001 11.33 9.32 
			 2002 11.93 9.74 
			 2003 12.32 10.07 
			 2004 (excl) 12.80 10.56 
			 2004 (inc(3)()) 12.60 10.44 
			 2005 13.11 10.77 
			 2006 13.62 11.21 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.  (2) Figures from 1992 to 1996 are taken from the new earnings survey, and are for GB only. Figures from 1997 to 2006 are from the annual survey of hours and earnings and are for the UK.  (3) In 2004 additional supplementary surveys were introduced to improve the coverage of the annual survey of hours and earnings. Figures are presented both excluding and including the additional surveys for comparison purposes.   Source:  New Earnings Survey; Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Breast Cancer

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in England have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many people in England have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. (148771)
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2004. They are published in the Annual Reference Volume, Cancer statistics: Registrations (Series MB1) available on the NS website:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=8843&Pos=1&ColRank=2&Rank=272
	The data item, stage, was introduced in 1993 when the cancer registration minimum data set was established by the Department of Health. There remains much variation between the recording of stage that it is likely to reflect differences in what is meant by "stage" by the cancer registries, rather than real differences across England in what clinicians use to classify the patients. It is not therefore, possible to provide England data on cancer incidence broken down by stage.

Council Tax: Valuation

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's project evaluation report produced for the council tax revaluation in Wales.

Jane Kennedy: Arrangements have been made to place copies of the Valuation Office Agency's Post Evaluation Review of the Wales Council Tax Revaluation 2005 in the Library.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1495W, to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) on departmental expenditure, what discussions his Department had with Brian Pomeroy before commissioning Opinion Leader Research.

Kitty Ussher: Mr. Pomeroy and Treasury Ministers discussed the review of Christmas saving schemes and agreed terms of reference. Mr. Pomeroy recommended to the Treasury that qualitative research be conducted to inform consideration of these questions. The Treasury awarded the contract for this work following an appropriate competitive exercise, in line with Government procurement rules.

Fireworks

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the revenue received by Her Majesty's Treasury from the importation, manufacture and sale of fireworks in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 2 July 2007
	 HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT or direct taxes related to the manufacture or sale of individual goods and services.
	The total revenue received by Her Majesty's Treasury from the importation of fireworks in each of the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004 3,766,584.41 
			 2005 4,153,984.30 
			 2006 3,857,197.20

Landfill Tax

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue collected under the landfill tax was  (a) allocated and  (b) disbursed to (i) the Waste and Resources Action Programme and (ii) other programmes designed to increase recycling in each of the last 10 years for which records exist.

Angela Eagle: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) obtains Government funding under both the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme (BREW) and DEFRA's Waste Implementation Programme (WIP).
	WIP received funding when the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, funded from Landfill Tax receipts, was reformed in 2003. Of this, £16 million in 2003-04, £35 million in 2004-05 and £50 million in 2005-06 was spent on WRAP.
	Landfill Tax receipts also fund BREW, which is being used to return £284 million to business over the current spending review period (2005-08). BREW is providing an additional £23 million to WRAP over this period.

Lone Parents

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 940-41W, on lone parents, if he will estimate the average tax credit payment being made to single parents entitled to working tax credit, including the child care element, and child tax credit.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 28 June 2007
	 Information on the number of single parent families benefiting from child and working tax credits, by band of entitlement, is available in table 2.10 of the HMRC publication "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2005-06", which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm

Office of Government Commerce

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Office of Government Commerce holds a framework agreement with Quality Health Ltd.

Angela Eagle: The Office of Government Commerce does not hold a framework agreement with Quality Health Ltd.

Taxation and Allowances

David Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to answer question 136787, on taxation and allowances, tabled on 8 May 2007 by the hon. Member for Blaydon.

Jane Kennedy: The Treasury regrets that my hon. Friend's question has not yet been answered. We will endeavour to reply to it as soon as possible.

Welfare Tax Credits: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in West Chelmsford were released from  (a) working and  (b) child tax credit repayments in each of the last four years.

Jane Kennedy: The information is available only at disproportionate cost.

Welfare Tax Credits: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in West Chelmsford have been 
	(1)  overpaid  (a) working and  (b) child tax credits in each of the last four years;
	(2)  in receipt of  (a) working and  (b) child tax credits in each of the last four years.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the numbers of families with tax credits awards, including overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for the years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are available in the HMRC publication "Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. Supplement on Payments. Geographical Analysis", for each relevant year. These publications and provisional estimates for the number of families with tax credit awards, by constituency, as at selected dates in 2006-07 are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm

Working Tax Credit

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credits forms TC846 were returned completed to the Tax Credit Office in each month from April 2003 to June 2007.

Jane Kennedy: Claimants can ask HM Revenue and Customs to reconsider a decision to ask them to repay their overpaid tax credits by writing to the department or by completing a form (TC846) that is provided for that purpose. HM Revenue and Customs do not separately count the number of requests made by using the TC846. For the total number of disputes received I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to his earlier question on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 415-16W.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Government have to increase the supply of affordable housing in places where the cost of housing is high in relation to average incomes.

Yvette Cooper: The Government's response, published in 2005, to Kate Barker's Review of Housing Supply set out an ambition to increase housing supply to 200,000 per annum by 2016. We are increasing provision of social rented housing to 30,000 homes in 2007-08 and have said that social housing will be a priority in the 2007 spending review. And we have plans to help 120,000 people into low cost home ownership in the five years to 2010.

Affordable Housing

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in Solihull in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The numbers of affordable homes supplied, in Solihull, in each year since 1997 are tabulated as follows. Figures include homes supplied through both new build and acquisitions.
	
		
			  Affordable housing supply: Solihull (West Midlands) 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Social rent 47 69 18 141 33 34 38 68 42 
			 Intermediate housing 13 16 7 22 0 23 57 75 102 
			  Affordable (total)  60  85  25  163  33  57  95  143  144 
			  Source: Local Authorities, Housing Corporation

Housing Targets

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's target is for additional  (a) council and  (b) other social housing in the 2007-08 financial year and the next two financial years.

Yvette Cooper: For 2007-08, we are on course to deliver our target of 30,000 social rented homes. The vast majority will be delivered by housing associations with a small proportion by council, or private developers.
	Future delivery will be subject to the outcome of comprehensive spending review 2007.

Unauthorised Gypsy Encampments

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Gypsy caravans there are on unauthorised encampments.

Iain Wright: The caravan count undertaken in January 2007 shows that there were 1,286 Gypsy and Traveller caravans on unauthorised encampments in England. There were 13,073 Gypsy and Traveller caravans on authorised sites.

Local Government Reorganisation

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on progress on local government reorganisation in the North West of England.

Hazel Blears: We announced on 27 March that proposals for single unitary authorities in Cheshire and Cumbria and a two unitary option in Cheshire would proceed to stakeholder consultation. The consultation closed on 22 June and we are currently considering all responses.

Unitary Government

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to announce the next round of decisions on unitary government.

Hazel Blears: It is our aim to announce the next round of decisions on unitary Government by the end of July, following our consideration of the responses received to the consultation exercise.

Home Information Packs

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the future of the home information pack programme.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the implementation plan for Home Information Packs, which was laid in the House Library. This sets out the work that the programme will be undertaking over the coming months.

Home Information Packs

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total cost to the public purse of the Home Information Pack and Sellers Pack schemes has been since 1997; and what estimate she has made of future expenditure.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Noble Friend, Baroness Andrews, on 27 June 2007, House of Lords,  Official Report, columns WA149-150. Expenditure for future years will be subject to the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.

Planning Guidance

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes to planning guidance she proposes in order to protect the viability of town and city centres.

Yvette Cooper: The "Planning White Paper—Planning for a Sustainable Future", made clear that we are fully committed to promoting the vitality and viability of town centres and to ensuring that the planning system supports the growth and development of town centres.
	As the White Paper indicates, we intend to review the current approach in Planning Policy Statement 6: Town Centres (PPS6) to assessing the impact of proposals outside town centres. We will replace the need and impact tests with a new test which has a strong focus on our town centre first policy, and which promotes competition and consumer choice.
	We will consult on proposals later this summer and develop new guidance with the industry and other stakeholders, with a view to finalising any changes by spring 2008. We will also take account of the Competition Commission inquiry into the groceries market, before finalising any policy changes.

Council Housing: London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to increase the availability of council housing in London.

Yvette Cooper: We are increasing investment in social housing and looking at new ways for councils to also build homes on their land in addition to housing association building.

Council Housing: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are taking to reduce carbon emissions from council homes.

Iain Wright: The Decent Homes Standard, which we expect every council home to meet, requires that homes have both efficient heating and effective insulation. This requirement will enable carbon emissions from council housing to be reduced.
	Since 2001, over 470,000 dwellings have received work to improve their energy efficiency under the decent homes programme or as part of wider local authority work to update the stock. Since 2001 there has also been a 36 per cent. reduction in the number of social sector homes failing the Decent Homes Standard on the thermal comfort criterion.

Council Housing: Essex

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council homes there are in  (a) Essex and  (b) the London borough of Havering.

Iain Wright: The number of local authority owned dwellings in Essex, Havering and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock are in the following table. Figures are as reported by local authorities as at the 31 March.
	
		
			  Local authority stock at 31 March 2006 
			   Number of dwellings 
			 Essex county council 55,559 
			 Southend-on-Sea unitary authority 6,232 
			 Thurrock unitary authority 10,420 
			 Havering 11,038 
			  Source: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix 
		
	
	Essex county council local authorities comprise of Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring and Uttlesford.

Council Housing: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council tenants in London were classed as living in cramped conditions in the last period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: As indicated by the Survey of English Housing over the three years to 2005-06, there were an estimated 62,000 overcrowded households living in local authority accommodation in London.

Council Housing: Rents

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the outstanding arrears of rent on council-owned  (a) residential and  (b) commercial property were in each London borough in (i) March 2005, (ii) March 2004, (iii) March 2003 and (iv) March 2002.

Iain Wright: The outstanding arrears of rent on council-owned residential property in each London borough in March 2005, March 2004, March 2003 and March 2002 are available in the following table. The information for council-owned commercial property is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Outstanding arrears of rent on council-owed residential property in each London borough in March 2005, March 2004, March 2002 and March 2002, as reported by local authorities 
			  £000 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,988 2,678 2,956 3,530 
			 Barnet 1,938 1,724 2,243 2,224 
			 Bexley (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Brent 3,956 3,0i3 3,761 3,194 
			 Bromley (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Camden 4,697 4,424 5,015 4,293 
			 City of London 240 177 142 189 
			 Croydon 4,222 0 3,823 3,005 
			 Ealing 7,950 7,059 6,772 6,255 
			 Enfield 3,432 3,217 2,925 2,918 
			 Greenwich 16,242 15,764 15,944 15,104 
			 Hackney 27,506 25,961 21,834 14,350 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,024 3,796 3,797 3,826 
			 Haringey 12,226 8,716 6,741 5,749 
			 Harrow 677 1,566 1,361 1,219 
			 Havering 1,429 1,761 1,832 1,445 
			 Hillingdon 2,643 2,422 2,494 2,446 
			 Hounslow 2,970 3,024 2,328 2,436 
			 Islington 17,807 17,121 18,252 13,845 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,367 2,370 1,745 2,701 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,426 1,629 1,844 1,864 
			 Lambeth 29,329 23,190 17,154 21,505 
			 Lewisham 8,448 7,622 6,835 7,614 
			 Merton 1,014 927 993 1,086 
			 Newham 8,066 7,291 7,538 10,763 
			 Redbridge 1,343 1,088 1,155 1,232 
			 Richmond upon Thames (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Southwark 25,117 17,293 15,734 12,359 
			 Sutton 2,280 2,041 2,791 n/a 
			 Tower Hamlets 4,327 4,001 4,515 8,459 
			 Waltham Forest 5,146 4,603 5,845 4,278 
			 Wandsworth 6,587 5,833 4,801 4,433 
			 Westminster 5,205 5,029 4,479 4,489 
			 n/a = Data not provided by the London borough of Sutton in 2005. (1) All or most of the local authority stock has been transferred to the Registered Social Landlord sector, so the rent arrears is no longer applicable.  Source: Communities and Local Government Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Subsidy Form, 2nd Advance.

Council Housing: Sales

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council tenants bought their council homes under the right-to-buy scheme in Romford in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006.

Iain Wright: Information specific to Romford constituency is not held centrally; however the numbers of local authority homes sold through the right to buy scheme in the London borough of Havering, in each financial year since 2003-04, are tabulated as follows:
	
		
			  Local authority stock sold through the right to buy scheme, Havering 
			   Number of homes 
			 2003-04 258 
			 2004-05 125 
			 2005-06 103 
			  Source: P1B Return from local authorities to CLG

Council Housing: Sales

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council tenants bought their council homes under the right-to-buy scheme in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The numbers of local authority homes sold through the right-to-buy scheme, in each financial year since 1996-97, are tabulated as follows.
	
		
			  Local authority stock sold through the right-to-buy scheme: England 
			   Number of homes 
			 1996-97 33,206 
			 1997-98 41,329 
			 1998-99 40,272 
			 1999-2000 54,251 
			 2000-01 52,380 
			 2001-02 51,968 
			 2002-03 63,394 
			 2003-04 69,577 
			 2004-05 49,983 
			 2005-06 26,655 
			  Note: Data include estimates for non-responding authorities.  Source: Returns (P1B) from local authorities to CLG

Council Housing: Sales

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local councils in  (a) England and  (b) London are not permitted to give reduced discounts on council homes sold via the right-to-buy scheme.

Iain Wright: No local council is able to reduce the discount available to tenants under the right to buy scheme. There is no discretion for local authorities to set right to buy discounts. The maximum level of discount available under the scheme is prescribed by the Secretary of State under section 131 of the Housing Act 1985.

Council Housing: Sales

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are taking to inform first-time buyers about the right-to-buy scheme.

Iain Wright: Social landlords are required by section 104 of the Housing Act 1985 to provide their secure tenants with information on the provisions of the right to buy scheme. Section 189 of the Housing Act 2004 places an additional duty on social landlords to supply information to tenants to help them to decide whether to exercise the right to buy. The matters on which information must be provided are specified in the Housing (Right to Buy) (Information to Secure Tenants) (England) Order 2005 (Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1735), and relate to the terms of the scheme (including eligibility and exceptions), the costs of home ownership (including mortgage, stamp duty, valuation fees and maintenance costs) and the risk of repossession if regular mortgage payments are not made.
	Since 1980, the Government have produced a booklet for tenants, "Your right to buy your home", which social landlords are expected to provide to their tenants. The booklet describes the terms and procedures of the scheme and the costs of home ownership.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her Department have had  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last year.

Hazel Blears: The information requested for the Department for Communities and Local Government and its predecessor the Office of The Deputy Prime Minister is as set out in the table. The figures refer to the year 2006-07. They do not cover the Government Offices network, Departmental agencies or non-departmental public bodies.
	
		
			  Number of periods of absence of fewer  than 5 days  Number of staff 
			 Five or more periods 128 
			 Four periods 93 
			 Three periods 156 
			 Two periods 237 
		
	
	The Department is committed to managing sickness absence proactively and supporting managers in managing sickness absence effectively.

Emergency Services: Floods

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for  (a) the Home Department and  (b) Heath on assessing the capabilities of fire, rescue and emergency services to carry out their duties when flooding has taken place.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government has provided specialised high volume pumping equipment to the fire and rescue service which was used in the recent flooding. The number of high volume pumps was sufficient to meet all operational requirements, and leave a cushion of spare capacity.
	As is normal procedure following a significant event, Communities and Local Government will be conducting a lessons learned exercise into the fire and rescue services response.
	A flooding work stream, led by Department for Food and Rural Affairs, under the cross-government Capabilities Programme, assesses whether local responders have what they need to address the flooding risks we face. This work informs the future development of the national flood capability, and complements that of responders at the local level, who undergo a similar process within their area.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list all publications containing current operational guidance issued to fire and rescue authorities.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 9 July 2007
	Recently issued operational guidance for the fire and rescue service is available on the Communities and Local Government website, and a substantial proportion of older guidance such as fire and rescue service manuals is available from The Stationery Office.
	The Department is currently in the process of reviewing all operational guidance issued to the fire and rescue service. This is likely to result in the review, reissue or withdrawal of some of the considerable body of existing guidance. After the review, a complete up to date list will be placed on the departmental website.

Flood Control

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if she will provide additional funding for local authorities to improve flood drains; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what funds the Government have made available for local authorities to improve flood drains; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Local authorities have permissive powers to undertake flood defence work on ordinary watercourses(1) (which are outside Internal Drainage Board districts) and against flooding from the sea. They receive grants towards the cost of capital flood and coastal erosion risk management projects from DEFRA through Environment Agency Grant-in-Aid.
	Local authorities also incur revenue expenditure on flood and coastal erosion risk management, typically on maintenance of defence or watercourses or non-grant eligible costs of capital schemes. This expenditure is supported through the local government finance system framework.
	In addition, work on future funding levels is currently taking place in the context of negotiating DEFRA's Comprehensive Spending Review settlement. The outcome of this is expected to be announced in the autumn.
	(1) Water Resources Act 1991 defines watercourses as any river, stream, ditch, drain, cut, culvert, dyke, sluice, sewer and passage through which water flows, except a public sewer.

Flood Control

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with water companies on upgrading drainage systems to reduce the impact of flash flooding; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what regulations govern the upgrading of drainage systems where incidents of flash flooding have taken place; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	DEFRA Ministers and officials regularly meet with key water industry stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues, including urban drainage systems.
	Sewerage companies have a statutory duty to ensure the effectual drainage of their area. However, it would not be practical to extend this to an absolute duty to prevent sewer flooding under all circumstances. Ensuring compliance with the duty on sewerage companies is a matter for the economic regulator, Ofwat.
	The Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards have permissive powers to undertake work to manage the risk of flooding or to secure drainage and water level management under the Environment Act 1995, the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Land Drainage Act 1991.

Housing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings she has had with Ministers from the devolved administrations to discuss housing policy.

Iain Wright: Although there have not been recent meetings with the devolved administrations to discuss housing policy at ministerial level, there are regular contacts between senior officials to exchange information and consider housing issues of mutual interest.

Housing Associations: Essex

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing associations there are in  (a) Essex and  (b) Romford.

Iain Wright: There are 314 registered social landlords (RSLs) operating in Essex and 22 operating in Romford. Information is only available for RSLs. There may be other housing associations operating in these areas that are not registered with the Housing Corporation.

Housing Associations: Essex

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing associations there are in  (a) Essex and  (b) Romford.

Yvette Cooper: .

Housing: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her estimate is of the number of homes built in Bournemouth in each of the last five years which have been purchased as second homes.

Iain Wright: Information on the number of new homes built that have been purchased as second homes is not available centrally.
	At 10 October 2005, around 2,500 dwellings of the total 80,300 stock in Bournemouth district council had a "second homes" discount on council tax (3.1 per cent.) according to figures reported by Bournemouth district council.
	 Source: Council Tax Base (CTBI) returns.

Housing: Essex

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many non-decent homes there are in  (a) Essex and  (b) the London borough of Havering.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today.

Housing: Floods

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were built on flood plains in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) on 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 369W.

Housing: Floods

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps have been taken to implement the Government's undertakings in reply to the Agriculture Committee's recommendation that a clear presumption should be made against future development in flood plain land where the flooding risk attached to a particular development is deemed to outweigh the benefits, given to the Agriculture Committee in response to its report Flood and Coastal Defence, HC707, 27 October 1998.

Iain Wright: In December 2006 we published Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25 "Development and flood risk", which aims to avoid inappropriate development in flood risk areas and direct development away from high risk areas by ensuring that sites at little or no risk of flooding are developed in preference to areas at higher risk. In the 10 per cent. of England at high risk of flooding PPS25 ensures that essential homes and services can be provided where it can be demonstrated that the need for the development outweighs the flood risk and the development will be safe and not increase risk.
	PPS25 strengthens and clarifies the policy established by Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25, which was published in 2001 in response to the Agricultural Committee recommendation and the floods of Easter 1998 and autumn 2000.

Housing: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses were built on designated floodplains in each year since 2000.

Iain Wright: holding answer 9 July 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) on 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column. 369W.

Housing: Low Incomes

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social housing properties were made available by property developers in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The Housing Act 2004 gave the Housing Corporation the power to provide grant to fund affordable housing to other bodies such as private developers. In 2006-07, a total of 260 social rented homes were provided by non-registered social landlords (RSL) through Housing Corporation's affordable housing programme. None of these homes were in London.

Housing: Low Incomes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in how many planning permissions for housing development the granting of permission incorporated a condition that a proportion of the properties built should be affordable in each of the last 10 years for which records are available; and what proportion of new homes granted planning permission in this period were affordable.

Iain Wright: This information is not held centrally.
	Communities and Local Government collects quarterly aggregate statistics on development control statistics from all local planning authorities in England. These statistics also include the number of planning decisions granted for major and minor developments relating to residential developments. However, we do not collect data on individual planning applications.

Housing: Low Incomes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of planning permissions granted in each of the last 10 years for which records are available for residential development which included an element of affordable housing have been  (a) started,  (b) completed and  (c) occupied.

Iain Wright: This information is not collated in the format requested.
	Communities and Local Government collects quarterly aggregate statistics on development control statistics from all local planning authorities in England. These statistics also include the number of planning decisions granted for major and minor developments relating to residential development. However, we do not collect data on individual planning applications.

Housing: Standards

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many non-decent homes there were in  (a) Essex and  (b) the London borough of Havering in the latest period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: In 2006 local authorities and registered social landlords in Essex reported that they had between them 20,325 non decent homes, out of 86,072 homes.
	In the London borough of Havering, registered social landlords and the council reported that they had 3,621 non decent homes out of 13,125 homes.

Housing: Standards

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are taking to ensure that private build houses meet the same standards as those completed by housing associations.

Iain Wright: All newly built housing, irrespective of whether privately or publicly funded, is subject to the minimum standards specified in the building regulations. Beyond that, builders and developers in the private sector are generally free to design housing as they wish, responding to market and consumer demand.
	In relation to sustainability, the majority of new homes built with Government funds allocated after April 2007, and all new homes built with Government funds allocated after April 2008, must comply with Level 3 of the code for sustainable homes. This sets standards across nine areas of sustainability and goes significantly beyond the standards set in building regulations. Private build houses are not required to meet standards above building regulations. However in our consultation document 'Building a Greener Future' published in December 2006 we suggested that all new homes (public and private) should be required to have a mandatory rating against the code from April 2008, indicating whether they have been assessed and, if so, the performance of the home against the code. We believe that this will encourage higher take-up of the code in the private sector.
	We are currently considering responses to our consultation and will make a further announcement shortly.

Internet: Taxation

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much taxation was collected from wi-fi installations by or on behalf of the relevant collections authorities during 2006-07.

John Healey: The Department for Communities and Local Government holds no data on how much taxation was collected specifically from wi-fi installations during 2006-07. Wi-fi installations, if rateable, are not separately identified from the mobile phone and broadcast wireless installations described as 'Communications Stations' in the local rating lists. A breakdown of the rating lists to separately identify wi-fi installations is not therefore possible.

Local Authorities: Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Audit Commission performance rating is for each local authority housing department in England; and what stock options strategy each is following.

Iain Wright: A table showing the housing scores and decent homes delivery option for each of the 115 unitary local authorities in England has been placed in the Library of the House. There is no annual assessment of district council housing functions as with single tier authorities through the Comprehensive Performance Assessment framework.

Local Government Finance

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities had their accounts qualified in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07.

John Healey: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and the Chief Executive was asked to write to the hon. Member. The Chief Executive subsequently replied to him on 28 June and I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 28 June 2007:
	Your parliamentary question on which local authorities fad their accounts qualified in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 has been passed to me for reply.
	As at the date of this letter, the 2005-06 accounts of the following seven principal local authorities have been qualified:
	Bedfordshire County Council
	Cornwall County Council
	Dacorum Borough Council
	Eastbourne Borough Council
	Hull City Council
	New Forest District Council
	Norwich City Council
	Because of the statutory timetable for the preparation and audit of the 2006-07 accounts, audit work is still in progress and we do not currently have any information on qualifications.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Local Government Finance: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value was per household of the Government grant to local government in 2006 for  (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council and  (b) Telford and Wrekin borough council.

John Healey: The figures for the two authorities are not comparable because Shrewsbury and Atcham council, as a shire district council, carries out fewer functions than Telford and the Wrekin borough council, which is a unitary council.
	According to revenue account budget returns submitted by local authorities to the Department, the total amounts of revenue grant (revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates and specific and special grants inside aggregate external finance) budgeted to be received by Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council and Telford and the Wrekin borough council for 2006-07 were £7.6 million and £175.6 million respectively.
	These amounts are equivalent to £185 and £2,660 per household respectively, using estimates of the number of households in each local authority's area in 2004, as published at:
	http://www.communities.gov. uk/pub/104/Table406_id1156104.xls

Local Government: Pay

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total back pay liability for all expected years is for each local authority that has applied for a capitalisation direction in respect of equal pay; and how much each authority is seeking to have capitalised.

John Healey: A number of local authorities are currently engaged in complex negotiations with their employees and Trade Unions, the outcome of which will determine the scale of their liability, if any, under the Equal Pay Act. Publishing the information requested could prejudice ongoing negotiations.

Planning Permission: Retail Trade

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will amend the General Permitted Development Order to require planning permission for change of use of small shop units into large ones.

Iain Wright: .
	Whether planning permission is required for the merger of shop units depends on what work is proposed. Unless a change of use is involved, planning permission will not usually be required if the merger involves only internal works. Transforming small shop units into large ones would not usually be considered a change of use. However, where works would affect the external appearance of a building, planning permission is likely to be required. Where planning permission is needed, local planning authorities can already prevent the merger of shop units through imposing planning conditions in the context of their planning strategy for their town centres. "Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres" (PPS6) gives further advice on the effective use of planning conditions to ensure that the character of a development cannot subsequently be changed to create a form of development that a local authority would originally have refused.
	We have no plans to change the current arrangements.

Regional Planning and Development: Northamptonshire

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans there are for infrastructure improvements in North Northamptonshire to coincide with the expansion in housing.

Yvette Cooper: The provision of appropriate infrastructure is clearly critical to the effective delivery of the Sustainable Communities Plan. Since 2004, the Government working with partners in the Northamptonshire area have invested £100 million additional funding through the Growth Area Fund in Northamptonshire.
	Furthermore the Government have set up an Inter Regional Board dedicated to delivering the coordination of sustainable growth across the Milton Keynes and South Midlands growth area reporting directly to Ministers.
	Officials from the Department, the Government Office for the East Midlands and the Department for Transport are working closely with local partners to develop a package of measures to resolve the particular issues associated with the A14 and the local transport networks in the Wellingborough and Kettering area. I expect further details to emerge from that work towards the end of the year, when we will have a clearer picture on timing and the phasing of development.
	Work with other agencies on the wider infrastructure issues is also progressing and these matters will be the subject of further consideration at the Examination in Public of the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy commencing in October this year. The purpose of the examination will be to test the "soundness" of the plan, which includes the delivery of infrastructure.
	In addition, from the commencement of the new East Midlands Rail Franchise timetable in December 2008, rail passengers will benefit from a new hourly service between Kettering and London (including Wellingborough), increasing the number of off peak services on the midland main line to five trains per hour. It has also been agreed in principle to extend this service to a new station at Corby from December 2008.

Revenue Support Grant

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration her Department has given to the position of local authorities on the revenue support grant floor under the pooled funding arrangements to take effect from April 2008 to support local area agreements.

John Healey: The pooled funding arrangements supporting local area agreements will have no effect on the distribution of Formula Grant to local authorities.

Shops: Planning Permission

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to require planning permission for the merger of ground floor shop units.

Iain Wright: Whether planning permission is required for the merger of shop units depends on what work is proposed to be carried out. Unless a change of use is involved, planning permission will not usually be required if the merger involves only internal works. However, where works would affect the external appearance of a building, planning permission is likely to be required. Where planning permission is needed, local planning authorities can already prevent the merger of shop units through imposing planning conditions in the context of their planning strategy for their town centres. "Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for town centres" (PPS6) gives further advice on the effective use of planning conditions to ensure that the character of a development cannot subsequently be changed to create a form of development that a local authority would originally have refused.
	We have no plans to change the current requirements.

Shops: Planning Permission

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to require planning permission for conversion of class A1 shops into coffee shops or internet cafés.

Iain Wright: The Government have already made a number of positive changes to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended). Planning permission is now needed to convert a shop under Class Al: "Shops" into a coffee shop under Class A3: "Restaurants and Cafés". This class was designed specifically for businesses where the primary purpose is the sale and consumption of food and light refreshments on the premises. The Use Classes Order also allows Class A3 uses to change to Class Al uses without planning permission.
	In 2005 the Government changed the Use Classes Order to expand Use Class Al to include internet cafés which are premises where the primary purpose is to provide access for members of the public to the internet. Internet cafés provide a valuable service to the public and contribute to the vitality and viability of high streets. Planning permission is therefore not needed to convert a shop into an internet café, and the Government has no plans to change the Use Classes Order in this regard.
	Local authorities have a range of tools available to them to plan proactively for the character and future vitality and viability of their high streets and Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for town centres advises on the scope of some of these. In addition, the Planning White Paper, Planning for a Sustainable Future, published in May 2007, set out proposals to introduce a new impact test which will improve consumer choice and promote competition and which will enable local authorities to better test the likely impact of development proposals outside town centres on town centre shops and services.

South West Regional Assembly

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the running cost of the South West Regional Assembly was in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Government grant since 2003 to the South West Regional Assembly in order for it to undertake its Regional Scrutiny, Planning and Housing functions is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  South West Regional Assembly 
			   £ 
			 2003-04 1,613,000 
			 2004-05 2,101,000 
			 2005-06 2,101,000 
			 2006-07 2,289,500 
			 2007-08 2,470,164

Subsidence

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if her Department will take account of issues relating to severe and widespread subsidence in public areas caused by historic mine workings in the annual local authority budget allocation process;
	(2)  whether public money is available for areas of historic iron ore mining or other non-coal mining areas on the same basis as that made available to historic coal mining areas; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations her Department has received from  (a) the relevant non-departmental public bodies and  (b) Cumbria County Council on the subsidence issues caused by historic mineworkings in the town of Egremont;
	(4)  which non-departmental public bodies have delegated responsibilities for dealing with widespread and severe subsidence in public places.

Iain Wright: The Government set the overall level of grant to local authorities in the spending review and will be considering all identified future pressures on local authorities, and the ways in which these can be mitigated, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007. However, primarily the route for assistance with funding for local authorities for subsidence caused by historic non-coal mine workings is through the Land Stabilisation Programme.
	The Land Stabilisation Programme (LSP) can provide local authorities with help with funding for land instability works due to abandoned non-coal mines which are likely to collapse and therefore pose a problem to life and property. Local authorities in England are eligible to apply to English Partnerships, the non-departmental public body managing the programme on behalf of Communities and Local Government. Extensive guidance on the assistance available, eligibility conditions and how to apply for funding can be found on the English Partnerships website at:
	www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
	Cumbria county council approached English Partnerships in August 2005 to explore the possibility of LSP funding after the collapse of a mineshaft in June 2005 at Greenmoor Road, Egremont. Following a meeting with and receipt of information from the council, English Partnerships concluded that the mineshaft treatment proposals did not comply with the terms of reference of the LSP. English Partnerships wrote to the council in September 2005 advising that the proposed project was not eligible for LSP funding.

Thames Gateway Bridge

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to make a decision on the Thames Gateway Bridge.

Parmjit Dhanda: We are currently reviewing the Inspector's report, inquiry evidence and all post-inquiry representations, and will issue a decision as soon as possible.

Thurrock Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total cost of the Thurrock Development Corporation has been since it was constituted; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: holding answer 26 June 2007
	To date, Communities and Local Government has allocated the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation a capital budget of £63 million and its revenue spending amounts to a total of £36.5 million since 2003—the inception of the Corporation.

Unitary Councils

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether she plans to use the powers contained in Part 1, Chapter 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, if enacted, to invite district councils to submit revised proposals for unitary structures on the basis of administrative areas with boundaries which exceed existing district council boundaries;
	(2)  if she will make it her policy not to invite new proposals for unitary status for at least two years after the completion of the review exercise.

John Healey: We have no plans for further rounds of restructuring. However, the Bill provides for an invitation to councils to come forward with unitary proposals. There may, for example, be a case for inviting a council to make proposals where that might be necessary to make sense of a boundary change.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed under the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and how many and what percentage were performed  (a) to save the life of the mother and  (b) where the child would have been seriously disabled.

Dawn Primarolo: There were 5.5 million (5,483,438) abortions performed in England and Wales on residents between 1968 and 2006.
	In the period between 1968 and 2002(1), 23,726 (0.4 per cent.) were performed under Section l(4)(2) and Section l(l)(c)(3) of the Abortion Act, to save the life of the mother.
	In the period between 1968 and 2006, 72,220 (1.3 per cent.) were performed under Section l(l)(d)(4) of the Abortion Act.
	(1) For 2003 onwards, these data are suppressed for reasons of confidentiality as the presented value would reveal a total of less than 10 (0-9) when used with data already published. This is in line with the Office for National Statistics' guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005).
	(2) "that the termination is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman".
	(3) "that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated".
	(4) "that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped".
	 Source
	Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women seeking an abortion in England gave addresses in  (a) Northern Ireland,  (b) the Republic of Ireland,  (c) Israel,  (d) Malta and  (e) Poland in 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: In England and Wales, in 2006, there were 1,295 abortions for residents of Northern Ireland, 5,042 for residents of the Republic of Ireland, 55 for residents of Malta and 10 for residents of Poland. There were less than five abortions (between 0-4)(1) for residents of Israel.
	(1) For confidentiality reasons, the actual number cannot be disclosed. This is line with the Office for National Statistics' guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005).
	 Source
	Statistical Bulletin, Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which 10 primary care organisations had the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest abortion rates in England per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years in 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Abortion Rates: Highest and Lowest 10 Primary Care Trusts per 1,000 Women Aged 15 to 44 years, 2006 
			Age  standardised rate 
			  England 18.5 
			
			   Highest Rates  
			 5LE Southwark 43.1 
			 5LD Lambeth 40.7 
			 5LF Lewisham 38.9 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham 37.5 
			
			   City and Hackney  
			 5C3 Teaching 36.2 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching 35.4 
			 5C5 Newham 34.3 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching 32.6 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching 32.3 
			 5NC Waltham Forest 31.9 
			
			   Lowest rates  
			 5PP Cambridgeshire 10.9 
			 5CN Herefordshire 11.4 
			 5KF Gateshead 11.7 
			 5ND County Durham 12.0 
			 5NW East Riding of Yorkshire 12.3 
			 5N9 Lincolnshire 12.6 
			 5QQ Devon 12.7 
			 5NF North Lancashire 12.7 
			 5NV North Yorkshire and York 12.9 
			 5QT Isle of Wight NHS 12.9 
			  Source: Statistical Bulletin, Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in  (a) Essex Strategic Health Authority and  (b) England and Wales had an abortion in 2006 who had already had (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five previous abortions.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of previous abortions for Essex and England and Wales residents, 2006 
			   Number of previous abortions  
			   0  1  2  3  4  5 or more  Total 
			 Essex Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)(1) 3,686 1,322 325 68 25 13 5,439 
			 England and Wales 131,833 47,156 10,944 2,501 947 356 193,737 
			 (1) Essex PCTs are Mid Essex, North East Essex, South East Essex, South West Essex and West Essex and come within East of England Strategic Health Authority.   Note: For confidentiality reasons, totals are grouped where there are less than 10 (0 to 9) cases, in line with the Office for National Statistics' guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005).   Source: Statistical Bulletin, Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006.

Blood Donors

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what dates blood donations were made to the UK Blood Service by UK blood donors who later developed vCJD; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many UK blood donors have developed vCJD after donating blood to the UK Blood Service; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) has been subsequently diagnosed in 18 people who before they developed symptoms of disease had donated blood in the United Kingdom which was transfused to recipients. These blood donations were made between 1981 and 2004, and 66 people have been identified who received blood from these donations. Some of these donations were made many years before vCJD was identified (and before Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy was described).

Breast Cancer

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Cancer Reform Strategy will include plans to introduce national monitoring of the incidence of metastatic breast cancer.

Ann Keen: Suggestions around the need to monitor nationally the incidence of metastatic breast cancer have been raised during the development of the Cancer Reform Strategy. However, the strategy is still being developed and it is too early to say what the final content will be.

Cancer: Drugs

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which cancer drugs have been referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for appraisal; what the date of  (a) referral and  (b) where applicable, the decision was of each; which drugs were (i) approved and (ii) not approved; and which type of cancer each drug treated.

Dawn Primarolo: Published technology appraisals from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have decisions which are grouped into three categories:
	where the treatment(s) is recommended for routine use in the national health service;
	where the treatment(s) is recommended for selective use in the NHS (i.e. for certain patients, after other treatments have failed etc); and
	where the treatment(s) is recommended for use in research only or is not recommended.
	The following table lists all the technology appraisals relating to cancer treatments published by NICE to the end of June 2007, including the date of referral, the condition and the drugs appraised, the date the guidance was published, the number of the appraisal (TA#) and the decision.
	
		
			  TA#  Condition and drugs appraised  Referral date  Publication  Recommendation 
			 3 ovarian cancer—paclitaxel (Taxol) 4 November 1999 May 2000 Selective 
			 6 breast cancer—docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel (Taxol) 4 November 1999 June 2000 Selective 
			 23 recurrent malignant glioma—temozolomide (Temodal) 12 July 2000 April 2001 Selective 
			 25 pancreatic cancer gemcitabine (Gemzar) 12 July 2000 May 2001 Selective 
			 26 lung cancer (non-small cell)—paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), gemcitabine (Gemzar), vinorelbine (Navelbine) 12 July 2000 June 2001 Routine 
			 28 ovarian cancer (advanced)—topetecan (Hycamtin) 12 July 2000 August 2001 Selective 
			 29 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia—fludarabine (Fludara) 12 July 2000 September 2001 Routine 
			 30 breast cancer—docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel (Taxol) Review of TA06 12 July 2000 September 2001 Selective 
			 33 colorectal cancer (advanced)—irinotecan (Campto), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), raltitrexed (Tomudex) 12 July 2000 March 2002 Selective 
			 34 breast cancer (advanced)—tratuzumab (Herceptin) 12 July 2000 March 2002 Selective 
			 37 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—rituximab (MabThera) 12 July 2000 March 2002 Selective 
			 45 ovarian cancer—pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride (Caelyx) 12 March 2001 July 2002 Selective 
			 50 chronic myeloid leukaemia—imatinib (Glivec) 12 March 2001 September 2002 Routine 
			 54 breast cancer (advanced)—vinorelbine (Navelbine) 12 July 2000 December 2002 Selective 
			 55 ovarian cancer—paclitaxel (Taxol) Review of TA03 12 July 2000 January 2003 Routine 
			 61 colorectal cancer (Metastatic)—capecitabine (Xeloda), tegafur with uracil (Uftoral) 31 July 2001 May 2003 Routine 
			 62 breast cancer (locally advanced)—capecitabine (Xeloda) 31 July 2001 May 2003 Routine 
			 65 aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—rituximab (MabThera) 20 May 2002 September 2003 Selective 
			 70 chronic myeloid leukaemia—imatinib (Glivec) Review of TA50 20 May 2002 October 2003 Selective 
			 86 gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (GIST)—imatinib (Glivec) 31 March 2003 October 2004 Selective 
			 91 ovarian cancer (advanced)—paclitaxel (Taxol), pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride (Caelyx), topotecan (Hycamtin) Review of TA28, TA45 and TA55 May 2005 Selective 
			 93 colorectal cancer (advanced)—irinotecan (Campto), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), raltitrexed (Tomudex) Review of TA33 1 April 2005 August 2005 Selective 
			 100 colon cancer (adjuvant)—oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), capecitabine (Xeloda) 21 June 2004 April 2006 Routine 
			 101 prostate cancer (hormone refractory)—docetaxel (Taxotere) 21 June 2004 June 2006 Routine 
			 107 breast cancer (early)—trastuzumab (Herceptin) 21 July 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005). Licence granted for use in early breast cancer May 2006 August 2006 Selective 
			 108 breast cancer (early)—paclitaxel (Taxol) 5 April 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) September 2006 Not recommended 
			 109 breast cancer (early)—docetaxel (Taxotere) 5 April 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) September 2006 Routine 
			 110 follicular lymphoma—rituximab (MabThera) 5 April 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) September 2006 Routine 
			 112 breast cancer (early)—anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin), letrozole (Femara) 21 June 2004 November 2006 Routine 
			 116 metastatic breast cancer—gemcitabine (Gemzar) 5 April 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) January 2007 Selective 
			 118 metastatic colorectal cancer—bevacizumab (Avastin) and cetuximab (Erbitux) 21 June 2004 January 2007 Not recommended 
			 119 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia—fludarabine (Fludara) Review of TA29 5 April 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005. Deferred July 2006 awaiting Medical Research Council trial) February 2007 Not recommended 
			 121 glioma (newly diagnosed and high grade)—carmustine implants (Gliadel) and temozolomide (Temodal) 21 June 2004 June 2007 Selective 
		
	
	There are also a number of appraisals of cancer drugs on NICE's work programme on which guidance has not yet been issued. The following table lists all the technology appraisals relating to cancer treatments, including the date of referral, the condition and the drugs appraised, whether they are being appraised as a Single Technology Appraisal (STA) or Multiple Technology Appraisal (MTA), the status of the appraisal and where available the expected date of issue.
	
		
			  STA/MTA  Condition and drugs appraised  Referral date  Status  Expected date of issue 
			 STA breast cancer (advanced or metastatic)—lapatinib (Tyverb) 19 December 2006 — TBC 
			 STA colon cancer (adjuvant)—irinotecan (Campto) 16 June 2004 (transferred to STA programme August 2006) Suspended: Campto is not currently licensed in the United Kingdom for this indication. TBC 
			 STA non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—rituximab (MabThera) Review of TA37 5 April 2005 — December 2007 
			 STA glioblastoma multiforme (recurrent)—carmustine implants (Gliadel) 21 June 2004 (transferred to STA programme August 2006) — January 2008 
			 STA head and neck cancer—cetuximab (Erbitux) 21 June 2004 Three appeals have been made against the Final Appraisal Determination. To be confirmed—subject to outcome of appeals. 
			 STA lung cancer (non small cell)—bevacizumab (Avastin) 19 December 2006 — January 2008 
			 STA lung cancer (non small cell)—erlotinib (Tarceva) 5 April 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) NICE awaits the decision of the appeal hearing heard on 6 June 2007. To be confirmed—subject to outcome of appeals. 
			 STA lung cancer (non small cell)—pemetrexed (Alimta) 5 April 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) NICE awaits the decision of the appeal hearing heard on 6 June 2007. To be confirmed—subject to outcome of appeals. 
			 MTA lung cancer (non small cell)—gefitinib (Iressa) 1 April 2003 Suspended: Iressa is not currently licensed in the UK for this indication. To be confirmed 
			 MTA mesothelioma—pemetrexed disodium 21 June 2004 — September 2007 
			 STA relapsed multiple myeloma—bortezomib (Velcade) 21 July 2005 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) — To be confirmed 
			 STA pancreatic cancer—Rubetican 21 June 2004 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) Suspended: The manufacturers have withdrawn their licence application. To be confirmed 
			 STA prostate cancer (hormone refractory)—Atrasentan 21 June 2004 (transferred to STA programme November 2005) Suspended: Atrasentan is not currently licensed in the UK for this indication. To be confirmed 
			 STA breast cancer—bevacizumab (Avastin) 19 June 2007 — To be confirmed 
			 MTA renal cell carcinoma—bevacizumab (Avastin), sorafenib tosylate (Nexavar) and sunitinib (Sutent) 19 June 2007 — To be confirmed

Clinical Trials

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1735W, on clinical trials, on what date the implementation group set up by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency was established; on how many occasions it has met since; and over what timescale he expects each of the recommendations contained within the report of the Independent Expert Scientific Group on clinical trials to be implemented;
	(2)  whether the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency assesses the size of doses to be administered to volunteers in clinical trials on the basis of minimum anticipated biological effect levels;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1735-36W, on clinical trials, whether the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has established an expert advisory group to advise on applications for clinical trials on higher risk substances.

Dawn Primarolo: The Implementation Group established by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to take forward the recommendations made by the independent Expert Scientific Group (ESG) held its first meeting on 27 September 2006 and has met a further four times since then.
	The MHRA assesses the starting doses to be administered to volunteers in clinical trials based on available toxicology and pharmacology data.
	In general, the calculation of the first dose in man is based on the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) determined in non-clinical safety studies performed in the most sensitive and relevant animal species. However, a calculation of the minimal anticipated biological effect level (MABEL) is also used and this approach is considered to be more appropriate than the NOAEL when the results of animal studies are thought less likely to predict the effect of the molecule in man.
	The MHRA has established an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) of the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) to advise on applications for clinical trials on higher risk substances, and it held its first meeting on 18 March 2007. Prior to this, and since the ESG formulated its interim advice in July 2006, advice on applications for clinical trials on higher risk substances was obtained from the CHM.
	Progress is being made on implementing the ESG report recommendations as follows:
	Recommendation one concerns the drug development process itself and the need for those involved in such programmes to be appropriately trained. The former will be addressed in the revised European Union guidance which we expect to be published by the end of July 2007. The MHRA is having discussions with relevant bodies on the latter with a view to developing a training and accreditation scheme for investigators for Phase 1 trials. We do not expect this recommendation to be implemented before 2008.
	Recommendation two proposes a regular review of the regulatory process and has already been implemented as one of the responsibilities of the newly formed EAG.
	Recommendations three and four propose that clinical and pre-clinical unpublished studies relevant to the safety of human exposure need to be collected in a format that can be shared confidentially between regulators. Discussions on the proposal have taken place with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and they will discuss the recommendations with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and with the International Conference for Harmonisation (ICH) to involve the wider regulatory population. The EMEA will also ask the European Commission about raising the issue of data sharing with other countries. The EU databases will need amendment to enable the information to be collected. We do not expect these recommendations to be implemented before 2008.
	Recommendations five and eight recommend earlier dialogue between regulator and drug developer, and better communication between regulator and ethics committees. The recommendation on earlier dialogue has been implemented through establishing a procedure that allows for informal discussion and submission of data on higher risk substances in advance of submission of the formal clinical trial application. This will avoid the need to lengthen current formal approval times.
	The recommendation on better communication was implemented in October 2006 through adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding between MHRA and ethics committees.
	Recommendations six and seven recommend the regulator should have access to additional advice from experts and were implemented by establishment of the EAG of the CHM in March 2007.
	Recommendations nine to 17 concern determining and administering the initial doses of a drug in man and are addressed in the guidance being developed by the EU scientific committee, which should be published by the end of July 2007. In the meantime the MHRA is operating interim arrangements that take account of these recommendations.
	Recommendation 18 refers to the training of principal investigators and is being progressed with recommendation 1.
	Recommendation 19 proposes development of a treatment strategy when drawing up protocols for trials involving higher risk substances and will be addressed in the EU guidance.
	Recommendation 20 specifies the facilities that should be available for first in man studies of higher risk substances. The MHRA is developing a voluntary accreditation scheme for Phase 1 units which will provide assurances that they have appropriate facilities available. This scheme will be available from April 2008, although we expect an informal self assessment scheme to be implemented shortly, prior to the scheme being finalised.
	Recommendation 21 advocates widening availability of "hands-on" experience in the conduct of clinical trials and has wide-ranging implications for industry and those responsible for the training of medical personnel. Although discussions are under way, it is unlikely that this recommendation will be implemented before 2008.
	Recommendation 22 considers the need for specialist Phase 1 centres, and we propose this should be addressed via the proposed accreditation scheme, which should provide assurance in the longer term that trials are conducted only in units with suitable facilities and staff.

Community Care

Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures are in place to ensure that recipients of domiciliary care commissioned by a local authority have continuity of care protected during a change in care provider;
	(2)  what redress is open to clients in receipt of domiciliary care commissioned by a local authority in circumstances where they have had their carer withdrawn by the local authority without provision for alternative support services being made.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 29 June 2007
	Local authorities are responsible for assessing the care needs of their populations and providing or arranging care services to meet those needs. It is for local authorities to ensure that people's assessed needs are met on a day to day basis, regardless of how services are delivered. Local authorities are responsible for setting the criteria that determine people's eligibility for care. They do so based on local need and may also take into account their resources.
	A person receiving domiciliary care services arranged by a local authority will receive such services, following the process of assessment of their need for such a service carried out by the authority, under section 47 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, taking into account relevant directions and guidance from the Secretary of State.
	Changes may be made by the local authority to the services received following a reassessment under section 47 and an authority may temporarily provide urgently needed services without an assessment, pending the completion of an assessment.
	People who have services withdrawn (or their representatives) are entitled to make use of the local authority social services complaints procedure. Procedures for handling complaints about the provision of domiciliary care services are set out in the Local Authority Social Services Complaints (England) Regulations (S.I.2006/1681). Information on how to make a complaint is available from local authority offices.

Contraceptives: Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the morning-after pill on the overall abortion rate in England; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research his Department  (a) has undertaken and  (b) plans to undertake into the reasons for trends in the abortion rate in England between 2005 and 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the most recent abortion rate was per 1,000 women aged  (a) 19,  (b) 18,  (c) 17,  (d) 16,  (e) 15,  (f) 14 and  (g) under 14 years in the UK; and what forecast he has made of the rate in each of the next 20 years.

Dawn Primarolo: No research has been commissioned or is planned in this specific area and no future forecast of abortion rates has been made.
	The reasons women seek an abortion are complex and may be subject to a number of different factors. It is difficult to attribute any changes to one intervention or event such as the increased availability of emergency contraception.
	Information on abortion rates for residents of England and Wales can be found in Table 4a of "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006", copies of which are available in the Library and on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk

Dental Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units of dental activity (UDAs) are available to dentists in each primary care trust in England; and how many UDAs this equates to per person within each primary care trust area.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the form requested. Information is available on the level of service commissioned.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) commission dental services from local dental providers. Information is collected centrally on the number of contracts each PCT holds and the units of dental activity (UDAs) these represent. UDAs are a way of measuring and giving relative weight to the courses of treatment given to patients. The latest information showing the total number of UDAs commissioned as at 31 March 2007 by PCT and the same data expressed per head of population are set out in tables which have been placed in the Library. The latest available population data are as at 2005.

Departments: Consultants

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on  (a) management consultants and  (b) other external consultants and advisers in each year since 2000; and which of these consultants undertook work for the Department with a total contractual value in excess of £10 million over this period.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not collect information on consultant spend in the format requested.
	Total departmental spend on consultants was:
	
		
			  Consultancy expenditure 
			   £  million 
			 2004-05 111 
			 2005-06 126 
		
	
	The following consultants undertook work for the Department with a total contractual value in excess of £10 million:
	
		
			  Total annual consultancy expenditure accounted for by supplier for 2004-05 and 2005-06 
			   Consultancy supplier name  £ million 
			 1 Wragges 14.2 
			 2 Addelshaw 10.8 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures exclude VAT.

Departments: Management

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the role is of his Department's departmental management board.

Dawn Primarolo: The role of the departmental management board (DMB) is to provide strategic leadership to the Department, support Ministers in developing and policy and strategy for the health and care system and oversee its implementation.
	A review of the role of the DMB will be undertaken as part of the Department's response to its recent capability review.

Departments: Management

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which members of his Department are included in his Department's senior leadership team; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The senior leadership team brings together directors general and directors in the Department (senior civil service paybands two and three). Its purpose is to develop a shared approach to corporate leadership of the Department.

Departments: Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last three years; and at what total cost.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of staff who received bonus payments in the last three years and the total amount of bonus paid is as follows:
	
		
			   Normal  £ 
			 2004-05 679 1,064,465 
			 2005-06 581 1,252,141 
			 2006-07 420 1,400,049 
		
	
	A significant proportion of bonuses paid were to staff who are senior civil servants, where the Department's policy is determined by the Cabinet Office guidance on civil service bonuses.

Departments: Performance Appraisal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07.

Dawn Primarolo: The annual report process for 2006-07 is not yet completed, therefore data are not available.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's budget was for each year  (a) before and  (b) after reprofiling, broken down into capital, near-cash and non-cash.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department's near-cash, non-cash and capital budget is set out in the 2007 Department Report. Previous controls are set out in HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses publications. Budget 2006 set out information regarding the reprofiling of departmental resources along with other routine and technical changes.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department have taken  (a) five or more,  (b) four,  (c) three and  (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: Our records show:
	81 staff have taken five or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months;
	60 staff have taken four periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months;
	153 staff have taken three periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months;
	261 have taken two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.

Departments: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  in which aspects of his Department's policy-making his Department has recognised weaknesses, as stated on page 22 of the Cabinet Office's Capability Review of the Department of Health, published on 22 June 2007;
	(2)  in which areas the quality of briefing to Ministers has been diminished as a result of weaknesses in the Department's policy-making, as stated on page 22 of the Capability Review of the Department, published on 22 June 2007;
	(3)  which parts of his Department are not confident in the use of  (a) economic and social analysis and  (b) evidence to support policy-making, as stated on page 21 of the Capability Review of the Department, published on 22 June 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: The purpose of departmental Capability Reviews is to use honest and robust assessments of future capabilities to identify the specific measures that are needed if central Government Departments are to play their part in enabling the United Kingdom to meet the considerable challenges of the future.
	The Cabinet Office's Capability Review of the Department was based on evidence from the Department itself, interviews and meetings with a wide range of external stakeholders, as well as a cross-section of departmental staff. The judgments reflect a considered overall view of the Department, and the permanent secretaries have welcomed the report as a timely and valuable assessment of the Department as a whole, and the challenges it faces, including challenges in the area of policy-making. However neither this nor any other review was designed to provide a comprehensive picture of the particular strengths and weaknesses of individual parts of departments and their work.
	The report describes the aspects of policy-making that are not consistently strong. The Department is already taking action on these. Better policy-making, the Department's plans for a system of policy governance to improve policy-making capability across the organisation, was published in April 2007. In addition, the Department's analytical capability has been relocated from central teams to individual policy directorates to improve the use of evidence in policy-making, and a horizon scanning capability is being established to bolster the Department's ability to predict future trends in healthcare.

Dietary Supplements: Channel Islands

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking to assist the governments of Jersey and Guernsey in the implementation of the European Union legislation relating to food supplements, nutrition and health claims made on food and the current medicine directives.

Dawn Primarolo: The Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation, the Food Supplements Directive and the Medicines Directive remove barriers to the free movement of goods within the European Union by regulating content, sale and labelling of products. Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the European Union (EU), instead they have a relationship with the EU provided by Protocol 3 of the United Kingdom's Treaty of Accession to the European Community. Discussions on exactly how the requirements of these Directives apply to the Channel Islands are continuing between the UK and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey.
	The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is supporting the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in their communications with the Channel Islands over these directives, and has had correspondence with the Chief Executive of Guernsey on this issue. The MHRA will give advice and assistance as requested by the Bailiwicks to implement Medicines Directives. The FSA will give advice and assistance as requested by the Bailiwicks to implement the Food Supplements Directive and the Nutritional and Health Claims Directive.
	The FSA, MHRA and MoJ have met with the Health Food Manufacturers' Association to discuss issues relating to the trade in food supplements and unlicensed medicinal products via the Channel Islands. Further information has been requested from the industry association to assist in discussions with the island governments.
	The MHRA's response to the consultation by the Bailiwick of Guernsey on its draft medicines legislation said that the proposed legislation did not implement the Medicines Directive; it offered assistance to the Bailiwick of Guernsey in implementing the Directive and asked for the Bailiwick's proposed timescale.

Elderly: Nutrition

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to prevent older people suffering from malnutrition in hospital.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 9 July 2007
	 As part of the Dignity in Care campaign, which has initially focused on the care needs of older people, I held a Nutrition Summit in March 2007, which was attended by leading charities, clinicians, nutrition experts and care home representatives. At that event, I announced that we would be working to produce a joint departmental and stakeholder Nutrition Action Plan to tackle the issues of nutrition and nutritional care. The action plan is being developed and applies to all adults. It is planned to be published this summer.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding her Department made available to  (a) the Food Standards Agency and  (b) other bodies for the purposes of conducting agricultural biotechnology research in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 28 June 2007
	The Department has provided no money to the Food Standards Agency, or any other body, for the purposes of conducting agricultural biotechnology research.

HIV Infection: Tuberculosis

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average annual cost is of treating a patient with  (a) HIV and  (b) tuberculosis.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on the costs associated with the treatment of HIV and TB, either by case or in total, are not routinely collected. Costs of treating people with HIV vary depending on the severity of symptoms and level of immune suppression.

IVF: Finance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the change in the cost of in-vitro fertilisation treatment in the  (a) NHS and (b) private sector arising from the introduction of the current regulatory regime.

Dawn Primarolo: The provision of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, in the national health service and the independent sector, has been regulated under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 since 1 August 1991. No assessment has been made of the changes to the cost of IVF following the introduction of the Act.
	On 5 July 2007, the Act was amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Quality and Safety) Regulations 2007, to bring the provisions of the European Union directive on the safety and quality of human tissues and cells for human application fully into force in respect of gametes and embryos. The regulations require establishments providing IVF to meet environmental and practice standards intended to ensure that only safe, high quality tissue is used in a patient's treatment.
	While many of the provisions in the directive mirrored existing requirements in the 1990 Act and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's code of practice, IVF clinics are likely to incur some costs in meeting the standards, although costs are likely to vary significantly between establishments. The regulatory impact assessment (RIA), prepared for the implementation of the directive, commented on potential costs to the fertility sector of complying with the standards. A copy of the RIA is available in the Library.

Leukaemia: Drugs

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to assess the benefits of prescribing Dasatinib (Sprycel) for chronic myeloid leukaemia; and if he will make a statement.

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to refer Dasatinib, a drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to seek its approval.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 3 July 2007
	Dasatinib (Sprycel) is licensed for the treatment of adults with chronic, accelerated or blast phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy including imatinib. Dasatinib is also licensed for the treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoid blast CML with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy. The Department has no plans to refer Dasatinib to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for appraisal at this time but the drug may be considered for referral to NICE in the future.

Medical Treatments: Research

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is being provided for research into photodynamic therapy.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds research to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service and through its health technology assessment programme is investing £1 million in a study to gather evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of photodynamic therapy for people with age-related macular degeneration.
	In addition, two of the NIHR biomedical research centres (BRCs) established this year will be undertaking research concerned with the use of photodynamic therapy. At the University College London hospitals BRC the research will form part of a gastroenterology and hepatology research theme to which £5 million has been allocated over five years. At the Moorfields Eye hospital BRC it will be part of programme of research to do with age-related macular degeneration to which £2.9 million has been allocated over five years.
	The Department is also providing NHS support for two trials of photodynamic therapy for biliary tract cancers through the NIHR Cancer Research Network, and for two trials of photodynamic therapy for cancer of the gullet (oesophagus) through the joint Cancer Research UK/NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre at University College Hospital London.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies though which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	The MRC has in the last six years funded two studies relating to photodynamic therapy at a total cost of £300,000.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to the letter of 29 May from the hon. Member for Walsall North concerning a constituent (ref PO213931).

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 5 July 2007
	The reply was sent on 5 July 2007.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Meat

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what reports he has received of MRSA infection in UK-produced meat;
	(2)  what tests are carried out on imported meat to identify MRSA infection;
	(3)  what tests are carried out on UK-produced meat to identify MRSA infection.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 9 July 2007
	 The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has received no reports of incidents of methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination in United Kingdom produced meat. No testing for  Staphylococcus aureus is required in UK slaughterhouses nor in other European Union slaughterhouses. Meat from third countries is subject to import controls, but is not routinely tested for  Staphylococcus aureus
	FSA and other organisations provide advice on personal hygiene and proper handling, storage and cooking of meat to minimise contamination by micro-organisms. Proper cooking will destroy MRSA.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Meat

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems are in place for testing meat imported from outside the EU for MRSA contamination.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 9 July 2007
	 Meat from outside the European Union is subject to import controls, but is not routinely tested for  Staphylococcus aureus
	All meat from outside the EU imported into the United Kingdom comes from establishments that are under veterinary control and must meet EU standards. On arrival at border inspection posts in the UK the meat is subject to checks by veterinary inspectors. All consignments undergo 100 per cent. documentation and identification checks and a prescribed level of physical checks.

NHS: Foreign Workers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the list of developing countries from which recruitment into the NHS is prohibited applies in the recruitment of  (a) doctors in training and  (b) other doctors.

Ann Keen: The code of practice for the international recruitment of healthcare professionals includes a list of developing countries from which the national health service should not undertake active recruitment. The list, overseen by NHS Employers, applies to all health professionals.
	The code of practice cannot, and does not seek to, prevent individuals from developing countries from speculatively seeking work in the NHS.

NHS: Reviews

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of the members of the NHS review group led by Professor Sir Ara Darzi.

Ann Keen: The terms of reference for the review are available in the Library and we will set out more detail on the work of the review in due course.

Nutrition: Obesity

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the proposal in the European Commission's White Paper on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity to reformulate food and drink products to combat obesity; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We welcome the publication of the Commission's White Paper, which outlines an European Union approach to address the incidence of overweight and obesity in the region. The White Paper's proposals on reformulation complement work already underway in the United Kingdom by the Food Standards Agency to address levels of saturated fat, total fat and added sugars in a range of foods as part of the Agency's saturated fat and energy intake programme.

Nutrition: Obesity

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and guidance he has issued on the consumption of different foods and drinks to tackle obesity.

Dawn Primarolo: As part of a healthy lifestyle, including being physically active, the Government advise that a healthy balanced diet is one that is rich in fruit and vegetables (at least five portions every day), starchy foods, such as potatoes, rice, bread, moderate amounts of meat and dairy products and low in foods that contain large amounts of fat, sugar and salt. A healthy balanced diet is low in fat, particularly saturated fat, salt and added sugars.
	The Food Standards Agency has also introduced a front of pack labelling scheme recommended for those types of foods which consumers have said it is difficult to judge the nutritional content. This information can be used at a glance by consumers to help them make informed choices about the nutritional content of foods they purchase when shopping. This will also help consumers to better understand which food products make a positive contribution to a healthy diet and which should be eaten in smaller amounts or less frequently.

Obesity: Children

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the role of  (a) fruit juices and  (b) smoothies in tackling childhood obesity.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government has not assessed the role of fruit juices or smoothies in tackling childhood obesity.
	The Government do, however, provide advice to consumers on the role fruit juices and smoothies can play in a varied, balanced diet. Government advise that fruit juices and smoothies can contribute towards recommended fruit and vegetable consumption, but advises these drinks can be high in sugars.

Pfizer: Drugs

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes in distribution of Pfizer medicines on NHS patients.

Dawn Primarolo: Officials in the Department continue to monitor the operation of the new arrangements. No substantial problems have been reported and no corrective action has had to be taken.

Pharmacy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 1006-07W to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) on pharmacy, how many pharmacies  (a) are registered as prescribers and  (b) offer primary care trust-commissioned blood pressure checks.

Dawn Primarolo: The commissioning of national health service services such as pharmacist prescribing and routine blood pressure checks are matters for primary care trusts to determine. Under the new community pharmacy contractual framework, pharmacists are now providing a wider range of services other than just dispensing medicines. These include the prescribing of medicines and blood pressure checks.
	Information from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, shows that at the end of May 2007, in Great Britain, there were 1,189 pharmacist supplementary prescribers and 68 pharmacist independent prescribers.
	Information on the number of pharmacists undertaking blood pressure checks is not collected centrally.

Poultry Meat

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the merits of regulating the addition of  (a) protein and  (b) water to chicken meat to provide for (i) limits in each case and (ii) further labelling requirements including in catering establishments.

Dawn Primarolo: The production and labelling of meat products are regulated in European law. The Food Standards Agency has raised this issue with the European Commission who considered the matter but concluded that current legislation was adequate. European legislation has no limits on added protein or water, however, if these are added, they must be correctly described on the label so as not to mislead consumers.
	There are no plans for legislation to require further labelling of added protein or water in chicken products. However, the agency will be consulting shortly on new guidance on the labelling of meat products for food businesses. Part of this guidance is specifically aimed at caterers.

Reproduction: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations in the field of reproductive health are funded by his Department; how much his Department plans to give to each organisation in the next two years; whether account is taken of an organisation's position on abortion when allocating public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The following voluntary and community organisations working in the field of reproductive health receive funding from the Department of Health:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Funding 
			  Organisation  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Antenatal Results and Choices(1) 20,000 — 
			 Brook Advisory Centres(1) 186,000 100,000 
			 Family Planning Association(1) 1.279 million — 
			 Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development(1) 30,000 — 
			 Infertility Network UK 103,000 88,000 
			 (1) 2007-08 is the last year in the current Section 64 grant cycle for Antenatal Results and Choices, Brook Advisory Centres, Family Planning Association and the Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development. The Family Planning Association contract for Sexual Health Direct ends in March 2008 and we have yet to consider funding allocations from April 2008. 
		
	
	The Department funds voluntary organisations in England, through individual policy programmes and Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, where organisations' activities support the Department's policy priorities.

Sleeping Pills

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) total number of and  (b) net ingredient cost of drugs dispensed in the community for the treatment of insomnia was in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Treatment for insomnia is classified in the British National Formulary (BNF) under paragraph 4.1.1. The number of prescription items dispensed in the community in England, together with the net ingredient cost (NIC), are shown in the following table.
	The antihistamine promethazine hydrochloride is listed by the BNF as a possible treatment for insomnia but dispensing for this drug is categorised under its use for respiratory conditions and so dispensing figures are given separately in the table. It is not possible to determine what proportion of this use, if any, is for insomnia.
	
		
			   Items dispensed (BNF 4.1.1) (Thousand)  NIC (BNF 4.1.1) (£000)  Items dispensed (Promethazine) (Thousand)  NIC (Promethazine) (£000) 
			 1997 10,570.6 21,303.4 372.2 485.3 
			 1998 10,619.3 23,137.9 337.8 433.2 
			 1999 10,633.6 25,637.9 284.4 433.2 
			 2000 10,638.5 27,907.5 252.5 401.7 
			 2001 10,697.1 26,698.4 239.4 395.1 
			 2002 10,653.5 27,091.4 229.3 397.6 
			 2003 10,606.1 27,402.2 214.8 373.2 
			 2004 10,474.6 26,782.1 208.5 369.3 
			 2005 10,016.5 23,473.7 209.6 381.5 
			 2006 9,868.1 (1)27,144.2 215.8 418.1 
			 (1) The increase in NIC in spite of a decrease in items between 2005 and 2006 is due to price changes to generic medicines (Category M).

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons his Department altered the design of the no-smoking sign it requires to be placed at the front of every enclosed public space to make it different from that determined by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO); what representations he has received from the ISO on the issue; at what cost the redesigned sign was developed; whether external agencies were involved in its redesign; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Health Act 2006 requires smokefree premises to display no-smoking signs. The Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2007 set out the requirements for no-smoking signs to be displayed in smokefree premises and vehicles.
	In addition to specified wording, no-smoking signs for smokefree premises must also carry a no-smoking symbol which "consists solely of a graphic representation of a single burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle of at least 70 millimetres in diameter with a red bar across it". The regulations are sufficiently flexible to enable businesses to design no-smoking signs that will fit the decor of their premises, as well as to use a no-smoking symbol of their choosing.
	The regulations do not specifically require no-smoking signs to carry the International Organization for Standardisation no-smoking symbol. To make such requirement would be overly bureaucratic and create an unnecessary burden on businesses, for example by requiring the replacement of pre-existing signs in smokefree vehicles across the country.
	The Department has received no specific representations from the International Organization for Standardization on requirements set out in the Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2007, either during the public consultation on smokefree regulations or subsequently.
	The no-smoking signs that have been made available via the Department's Smokefree England campaign are compliant with these regulations. The cost for the design of no-smoking signs that have been made available by the Department was provided in the answer given to the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire), on 18 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 1577-78W. The figure represents the total design costs for signs, including the no-smoking symbol used.

Smoking

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of measures to enforce the prohibition on smoking in public places.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 9 July 2007
	 The Department has put a range of measures into place to monitor and evaluate smokefree legislation in England. A programme of Department-sponsored research is in place to monitor the impact of the new law.
	Data are also being collected from local authorities on levels of compliance and enforcement actions taken, as well as the number of calls to the Smokefree England compliance line. These data will be routinely published on the Smokefree England website at:
	www.smokefreeengland.co.uk.
	Given that smokefree legislation has only been enforced since 1 July 2007, specific assessments on the effectiveness of enforcement are unable to be made at present.

Water: Children

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effects of dehydration on children of school age; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not undertaken a specific research project on the effects of dehydration on children of school age. The Government's healthy eating advice is to drink plenty of water.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departments: Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what meetings Ministers in his Department have held with Deborah Mattinson of Opinion Leader Research in the last 12 months.

Edward Miliband: Ministers meet many people as part of the process of policy development. It is not normal practice to disclose details of such meetings.

Members: Correspondence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when his Department will respond to the letter dated 4 June from the hon. Member for North Norfolk on guests to Chequers.

Edward Miliband: A response was sent to the hon. Member on 10 July 2007.

Official Hospitality: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost to the public purse was of the event for special advisers held in No. 10 Downing street on 15 June.

Edward Miliband: There was no cost to the public purse.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Detainees

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what charge Ahmed Belhada is being detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Kim Howells: I understand that the hon. Member may be referring to an Algerian national named Mr. Ahmed Belbacha who is detained at Guantanamo Bay. We are not aware that Mr. Belbacha has been charged by the US authorities.

Burma: Human Rights

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for measures to  (a) promote human rights and democracy and  (b) encourage dialogue between parties in conflict in Burma.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) identifies Burma as a country of concern in our 2006 Annual Report on Human Rights. Our aim is to promote full respect for human rights in Burma, encouraging the rule of law, democracy and good governance, and the freedom of association and speech in accordance with international human rights law. We are at the forefront of international efforts to encourage the military regime to restore democracy and to respect human rights.
	We take every opportunity to raise human rights issues with the regime and remind them of their obligations to adhere to international human rights law, most recently when our ambassador in Rangoon met the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister and the Ministers of Planning and Health on 12-13 June. Our embassy in Rangoon is also delivering capacity building assistance through the FCO Global Opportunities Fund in support of these objectives.
	We believe the UN has a key role to play in addressing the political and humanitarian challenges in Burma. We shall continue to support the efforts of the UN, including the good offices mandate of the Secretary-General.

Chechnya: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on Chechnya's observance of human rights.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Annual Report on Human Rights, which was last published in October 2006, sets out the Government's assessment of the situation in Chechnya. We remain deeply concerned by the situation in the republic, which is fragile and vulnerable to human rights violations. We, and EU partners, continue to monitor developments closely. Copies of the 2006 FCO Annual Report on Human Rights are available in the Library of the House.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost is of all private finance initiative projects for which his Department has responsibility completed since 1997; and what the projected cost is of such projects commissioned or under way.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has completed no Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) since 1997. Two PFI projects are under way with a total estimated cost of £381.7 million. The details are:
	Global Crossing—Provision of a worldwide telecommunications network for a term of ten years from 10 May 2000. The total estimated cost of this contract is £247.5 million. The present unitary payment charged to the operating cost statement is £24 million per annum; and
	Arteos—In respect of the building, operation and maintenance of our Embassy in Berlin for a term of 30 years from 23 June 1998 with an option to extend for a further 30 years. The total estimated costs of the contract over its lifetime to June 2028 is £134.2 million. The current unitary payment is £4.4 million per annum.
	Further details on these signed deals are available on HM Treasury's website, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm
	This list covers unitary charge payments up to 2033-34. Unitary charge payments are projections covering more than the repayment of the capital value of a project. They will frequently include inflation, service provision and major refurbishment. They are also conditional on the performance of the private sector contractor.
	The FCO has commissioned no other PFI projects.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the EU food supplements directive;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the potential impact of imposing maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	A number of representations have been received on the interpretation and implementation of the food supplements directive, highlighting concerns regarding the possibility that the European Commission (EC) intend to propose restrictive daily dose levels for vitamin and mineral supplements and the potential consequent loss of consumer choice.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently carried out an informal consultation on an initial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) that sets out the current position in the United Kingdom with respect to food supplements and seeks information from stakeholders to measure the potential impact in advance of future EC proposals for setting daily dosage levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The information will be used to inform the draft RIA, which will then be subject to a formal consultation process. Since we do not yet know what the Commission will propose, the FSA sought information on a wide range of possible options.
	The impact assessment will be updated to take account of future Commission papers and a full public consultation will be carried out when the Commission publish proposals. The UK negotiating position on maximum levels will take into account all stakeholder comments.

EU Reform: Treaties

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the holding of a referendum on the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty.

Jim Murphy: The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, on which the Government proposed a referendum, is now defunct. The mandate for a Reform Treaty agreed by the European Council states clearly:
	"The constitutional concept, which consisted in repealing all existing Treaties and replacing them by a single text called "Constitution", is abandoned".
	As my right hon. Friend the then Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair) set out in his statement to Parliament on 25 June, the Reform Treaty will differ fundamentally from the Constitutional Treaty in both form and substance.
	The subject of a referendum on the proposed Reform Treaty has been discussed on many occasions, including in Parliamentary debates, questions and evidence sessions. The UK's only ever national referendum was on European Economic Community membership in 1975. The Reform Treaty will be an amending Treaty in the tradition of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice—none of which were subject to a referendum in this country.

EU Reform: Treaties

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the differences are between the original planned EU Constitution in 2005 and the new proposed EU Constitutional Treaty 2007.

Jim Murphy: The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, on which the Government proposed a referendum, is now defunct. The mandate for a Reform Treaty agreed by the European Council states clearly:
	"The constitutional concept, which consisted in repealing all existing Treaties and replacing them by a single text called "Constitution", is abandoned".
	As my right hon. Friend the then Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair) set out in his statement to Parliament on 25 June, the Reform Treaty will differ fundamentally from the Constitutional Treaty in both form and substance. Among other things, we have ensured that there is nothing in the mandate for the Reform Treaty which will require us to change our existing labour and social legislation. Our common law system and our police and judicial processes will be protected. Our independent foreign and defence policy will be maintained. Our tax and social security system will be protected.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to answer the letter to his predecessor dated 4 June from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Omer Farooq.

Kim Howells: I apologise for the delay in replying to my right hon. Friend. A reply was sent on 9 July.

Robert Mugabe: Summit Conferences

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to  (a) the Portuguese Government and  (b) the EU on President Mugabe's attendance at the Lisbon Summit in December 2006.

Meg Munn: The UK is strongly committed to the EU Africa relationship. We want to see a successful summit that agrees substantive co-operation in areas that really matter for Africa, for Europe and for the UK. We are working with the Portuguese, and other EU colleagues, towards this and have underlined to them our view that President Mugabe's attendance would detract from this important agenda. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed this most recently with his Dutch colleague on 5 July and will do so in discussions with other EU Foreign Ministers, including the Portuguese, in coming weeks. This was also raised during my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's discussions with the Portuguese Prime Minister on 9 July.

Succession: EU Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are at EU level to provide a unified approach to laws on succession and wills, with particular reference to proposals emanating from the Commission's Green Paper thereon; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2004 the Council of the European Union invited the European Commission to prepare a Green Paper on the conflict of laws in matters of succession and related issues. The Green Paper was published in 2005 and suggested there was a need for the harmonisation of private international law rules in the field of succession.
	The UK response to the Green Paper made clear that although the Government support, in principle, the development of proposals to help people with inheritance matters that have a cross-border element, it has serious concerns about the proposals that might emerge from the Commission's Green Paper. The UK detailed response is available on the EU website:
	http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/consulting_public/successions/contributions/contibution_uk_en.pdf
	The Commission is now considering the responses to the Green Paper and is expected to publish a draft proposal for a regulation in late 2007 or early 2008.

Sudan: Human Rights

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage implementation of the United Nations Human Rights Council recommendations published following the Group of Experts report on Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We strongly support the UN Human Rights Council's (HRC) work on improving human rights in Darfur.
	The HRC high-level assessment mission, which examined the situation in Darfur in February, recommended a review of the implementation of existing human rights recommendations from different parts of the UN system. We actively supported the German EU Presidency in pushing for the establishment of the Darfur Implementation Mechanism in March. This group of UN Special Rapporteurs is pressing the Government of Sudan for better and faster implementation of human rights recommendations in Sudan. We expect an interim report in September, with a full report to follow in November/December.
	We are pressing the Government of Sudan to comply fully with the report's recommendations.

Turkey: Iraq

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of recent Turkish army movements along that country's border with Iraq.

Jim Murphy: We are aware of counter-terrorist operations by the Turkish security forces close to Turkey's border with northern Iraq. This is in response to a series of recent attacks by the Kurdish separatist group, the Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan (PKK) against military and civilian targets in Turkey which have caused a significant number of fatalities.
	We utterly condemn the attacks carried out by the PKK, as we do all acts of terrorism. We encourage Turkey to engage with the Iraqi Government, and the Kurdish regional government, to address the PKK presence in northern Iraq and we welcome the ongoing trilateral co-operation between Turkey, Iraq and the US.

Zimbabwe: Foreign Relations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits of UK military action against Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: We believe that change by peaceful means is still the best approach to resolving the current crisis. Zimbabwe desperately needs policy reform to reverse its current decline. We are supporting the efforts of all those working for democratic change in Zimbabwe.

JUSTICE

Coroners

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of deaths reported to coroners resulted in an order for a post-mortem examination in each year since 1997, broken down by coroner's region; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of deaths reported to coroners were the subject of an inquest in  (a) each coroner's region and  (b) England and Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;

Bridget Prentice: Because of the comprehensive nature of these data, the information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

Coroners

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of deaths were reported to a coroner in each year since 1997, broken down by coroner's region; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Information on the number of registered deaths is only available for coroners' districts where these coincide exactly with one or more local or unitary authorities. Coroners' district boundaries are not always consistent with those of local authorities, and therefore it is not possible to provide this information for all such districts. However, information on the number of registered deaths of residents and the number of deaths reported to coroners in England and Wales for all years from 1997 to 2006, aggregated to approximately county level, is in the process of being collated by my officials and I will write to the hon. Member shortly with this information.

Coroners: Expenditure

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on coroners' services in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each coroner's region in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Funding for the coroner service in England and Wales is provided by local authorities and police authorities, in those areas where the police employ coroners officers and administrative staff. Data are not collected on the total spend on the coroner service by coroner jurisdiction.
	In 2003 Tom Luce's 'Fundamental Review of Death Certification and Investigation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland' (Cm 5831) estimated the total spend on the coroner system in England and Wales to be £71.4 million. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) does publish data on local authority spend by coroner jurisdiction but we cannot guarantee the accuracy of that information.

Coroners: Manpower

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many coroner's regions were allocated part-time coroners in each year since 1997; how many were without a fully qualified coroner for part of the period between 1997 and 2007; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time coroners there were in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The ratio of part-time to full-time coroners for the years between 1997 and 2004 is currently being gathered and I will write to the hon. Lady shortly. The Coroners' Society annual report lists 89 part-time coroners and 28 full-time coroners in 2005 and 86 part-time coroners and 32 full-time coroners in 2006. There are currently 79 part-time coroners and 32 full-time coroners. An individual has to be qualified either as a lawyer or doctor for five years to serve as a coroner, deputy coroner or assistant deputy coroner.

Courts: Birmingham

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many defendants who have appeared before  (a) a Crown court and  (b) the magistrates' courts in Birmingham since 1 May 2007 have been remanded overnight in court cells in London; how many were (i) adult males, (ii) adult females, (iii) males between 18 and 21 years and (iv) females between 18 and 21 years; where those defendants were remanded; when they were remanded; on how many occasions defendants were remanded; and whether those so remanded had access to drug, physical and mental health staff, showers and a change of clothing before reappearing in court each following day.

David Hanson: No defendants have been remanded from Birmingham Crown or magistrates courts to court cells in London. However, on 11 June 2007, five sentenced adult male prisoners and one sentenced young adult male prisoner were sent from Birmingham Crown court and Birmingham magistrates court to be held in cells at West London magistrates court.
	In accordance with the agreed protocol, no female or juvenile prisoners have been held overnight in court cells.

Electoral Register: Barnet

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2007,  Official Report, column 910W, on the electoral register: Barnet, when the canvassing took place; how many people were registered  (a) before and  (b) after the canvassing; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I understand that in addition to the annual canvass the electoral registration officer at Barnet council commenced a personal canvass of Grahame Park, Colindale on 18 June 2007. Before commencing this canvass the number of registered electors was 4,828. As of the 5 July 2007, the number of new electors that will be added and published in the August register stands at 182. Canvassers will continue to make house to house enquiries until the 10 July 2007.

Huntercombe Young Offender Institution

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to Question 147127, on the Huntercombe Young Offender Institution, how the use of PAVA is regulated; what restrictions there are on the use of PAVA; what criteria are taken into account in deciding to use PAVA; who is authorised to make decisions on the use of PAVA; whether exposure to PAVA has lasting physical effects; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: PAVA is an advanced incapacitant spray. Its use is limited to serious incidents such as hostage taking. Its use may only be authorised by the Gold Commander managing the incident and only specially trained national control and restraint staff may use it. Only those who are specifically trained in its use are authorised to use it. In general it will not be authorised if:
	dealing with prisoners at height (because of the risk of injury/falling);
	dealing with juvenile prisoners and other prisoners held in juvenile units or secure training centres;
	there is reason to believe the intended target has/could develop breathing difficulties following the use of PAVA (e.g. if asthmatic);
	a member of healthcare staff is not available on site at the incident to give medical care to any affected by the spray; and
	the incident takes place in a privately run prison or immigration removal centres
	Exceptions may be made if lives are in danger. Department of Health approval was sought for its use and it has no long term medical effects.

Judicial Appointments Commission for England and Wales: Secondment

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of the staff seconded from his Department to the Judicial Appointments Commission are of  (a) senior leadership,  (b) policy and  (c) administrative support grades; whether staff who have been seconded to the Judicial Appointments Commission from his Department have maintained the same line management relationships with their existing managers; whether staff who have been seconded to the Judicial Appointments Commission from his Department may receive performance-related bonuses; what assessment he has made of the performance of the Judicial Appointments Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has a complement of 94 staff of which 17 members are temporary contractors on short-term contracts and 77 were secondees from the Civil Service. 70 are seconded from the Ministry of Justice (of these, 40 previously worked from the Lord Chancellor in this area, and 30 have not previously worked in this area); the remaining seven are seconded from other Government departments. In response to a request from the Constitutional Affairs Committee, information about staff seconded to the Judicial Appointments Commission is currently being collated and will be provided by the Chief Executive of the Commission to the Committee on 16 July.
	I will place a copy in the Libraries of the House and send a copy to my right hon. Friend. This should answer all sections of this question but if not I should of course be happy to provide my right hon. Friend with as much additional information as is available.
	I also refer my right hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement I made to this House on 4 July 2007,  Official Report, column 48WS announcing the publication of the Commission's first annual report.

Pre-nuptial Agreements

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is on pre-nuptial agreements; and what representations his Department has received from the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford on this issue;
	(2)  whether his Department has made any assessment of the impact of pre-nuptial agreements on  (a) low income and  (b) vulnerable individuals.

Bridget Prentice: Couples are free to make pre-nuptial agreements and apply them in the event of relationship breakdown. In those circumstances the courts will only intervene in their financial affairs if one party wishes to dispute that agreement. Even if the parties dispute it, an agreement is a factor taken into account in any ancillary relief proceedings relating to the couple who made the agreement.
	The welfare of any child is the court's first consideration when resolving a couple's financial affairs. Enforcement of prenuptial contracts regardless of their content would displace that principle. An agreement which is very old, or one which does not deal with the couple's current circumstances, or on which the parties had not taken independent legal advice, could be unfair. The agreement might not have considered changes in circumstances, such as the illness of one of the parties, or the birth of children, which would change the parties' earning capacity.
	This Ministry has not received any representations from the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford on this issue to date.
	The Ministry has not undertaken research on the impact of pre-nuptial agreements on parties with low incomes and vulnerable individuals. However, we believe that pre-nuptial agreements are most often used by wealthier couples. We think that pre-nuptial agreements could never fully oust the jurisdiction of the court without putting vulnerable parties and children at risk.

Prisoners: Facilities

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 912-3W, on prisoners: facilities, what sanitary facilities exist within the custody area of court cells.

David Hanson: Wash basin and toilet facilities are available within court custody areas. Showers are not generally available at most court sites.

PRIME MINISTER

Cabinet: Qualifications

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister how many  (a) O levels,  (b) A levels,  (c) bachelor's degrees,  (d) apprenticeship qualifications and  (e) higher degrees are held by members of the Cabinet.

Gordon Brown: The information requested is not held centrally. However, biographical information is available in "Dod's Parliamentary Companion".

Department for Education and Skills: Reorganisation

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister what the projected cost is of re-organising the Department for Education and Skills.

Anne Milton: To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of the machinery of government changes he has made.

Gordon Brown: The cost of machinery of Government changes will be met by relevant Departments within existing departmental budgets.

Departments: Buildings

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to refurbish, extend or renovate the Downing Street complex.

Edward Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer that the then Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Durham (Hilary Armstrong) gave him on 8 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 2198-99W.

Departments: Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what changes have been made to the staff structure at No. 10 Downing Street since 27 June;
	(2)  what new positions have been created in No. 10 Downing Street since 27 June 2007.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 2 July 2007,  Official Report, column 945W.

Departments: Official Hospitality

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what the No. 10 Downing Street entertainments budget  (a) was in July and August 2006 and  (b) is in July and August 2007.

Gordon Brown: Details of the entertainment costs for 2006-07 will be published shortly. Figures for the financial year 2007-08 will be published in the normal way after the end of the financial year.

Departments: Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the remit of his adviser on political press issues.

Gordon Brown: Special advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

Departments: Press Conferences

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister whether he will hold monthly press conferences and appear before the Liaison Committee at least twice a year.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 27 June 2007. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website (http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12162.asp), and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Lord Laidlaw: Taxation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has responded to the House of Lords Appointments Commission's concerns about the UK tax status of Lord Laidlaw; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: The House of Lords Appointments Commission set out their position in their annual report 2006-07, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether the Government has agreed to provide funding for the  (a) salary,  (b) administrative support costs,  (c) travel costs and  (d) security costs of the former Prime Minister in his new role as Middle East envoy in 2007-08;
	(2)  how much funding has been pledged by  (a) the United Nations,  (b) the European Union,  (c) the United States and  (d) Russia for the (i) salary, (ii) administrative support costs, (iii) travel costs and (iv) security costs of the former Prime Minister in his new role as Middle East envoy in 2007-08.

Gordon Brown: The Government welcome my predecessor's appointment as the Quartet's Middle East Representative. As Prime Minister, he demonstrated his commitment, over the years, to advancing the peace process. Details of his role and his team, together with potential funding, are being worked out in discussion with international partners. We are currently considering how we can best support that work.

Petitions: Electronic Government

David Evennett: To ask the Prime Minister what future plans he has for e-petitions on his Office's website.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 27 June 2007. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website (http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12162.asp) and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Regional Government: Ministerial Duties

Mark Prisk: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the responsibilities are of the newly appointed regional Ministers; and which public bodies are accountable to them;
	(2)  to whom the newly appointed regional Ministers report; and what  (a) personnel and  (b) financial resources are available to them to undertake their responsibilities;
	(3)  what powers the newly appointed regional ministers have in relation to  (a) Government regional offices,  (b) regional assemblies and  (c) regional development agencies.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the Command Paper "The Governance of Britain" (Cm 7170) published on Tuesday 3 July 2007. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.